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THE VOICE
Anne Arundel County Chapter

Volume 6, Issue 3

  Page 4

the inclusion of children with disabilities in  perform- ance and accountability systems.

* An analysis of the impact of Federal and State  statutory, regulatory, and administrative requirements  on the cost and effectiveness of special education  services.

* An assessment of how differences in local educational  agency size, location, demographics, and wealth, and in  State law and practice affect which children are referred  to special education, and the cost of special education.

* A review of the experiences of State and local  governments in financing special education, and an  analysis of whether changes to the Federal "supplement  not supplant" and "maintenance of effort" requirements  are appropriate.

The President has, thus far, announced his intention to appoint the following individuals to serve on the Commission:

Terry Branstad, Iowa  Adela Acosta, Maryland
Steve Bartlett, Texas   Paul Butterfield, Penn.
Jay Chambers, California   W. Alan Coulter, Louisiana
Thomas Flemming, Michigan  Jack Fletcher, Texas
Douglas Gill, Washington  David Gordon , California
Nancy Grasmick, Maryland  Bryan Hassel, N. Carolina
Douglas Carl Huntt, Ohio   Michael Rivas, Texas
Cheryl Rei Takemoto, Virginia  Katie Wright, Illinois

The findings and recommendations of the Commission will, no doubt, weigh heavily in the Administration's approach to the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) next year.  They could also impact the amount and nature of Federal funding for IDEA in the years ahead.

Washington Watch

White House announces
Presidential Commission on
Excellence in Special Education


On October 2nd the White House announced the creation of the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education.  The Commission, to be made up of 19 members, with provision for 5 ex-officio members, will be comprised of people with expertise in special education matters from the Federal, State, and local level, including administrators, people with expertise in special education finance, university faculty, parents, and people with disabilities. 

The Commission is charged to provide the President, no later than April 30, 2002, with a report detailing information in the following areas:

* An examination of the effectiveness and cost of   special education and the appropriate role of the  Federal Government in special education program- ming and funding.

* Recommendations regarding how Federal resources  can best be used to improve educational results for  students with disabilities.

* A recommended special education research agenda.

* An analysis of the impact of providing appropriate  early intervention in reading instruction on the  referral and identification of children for special  education.

* An analysis of the effect of special education funding  on decisions to serve, place, or refer children for  special education services, and recommendations for  alternative funding formulae that might distribute  funds to achieve better results and eliminate any  current incentives that undermine the goals of  ensuring that children with disabilities receive a  high-quality education.

* An analysis of, and recommendations regarding, how  the Federal Government can help States and local  education agencies provide a high-quality education  to students with disabilities, including the recruit-
ment and retention of qualified personnel and

(continued on next column)

Upcoming Public Forum on IDEA


The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, is sponsoring a public forum to provide input on the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

This public forum will be held on December 6th from 1:30 - 4:30 PM and 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the Academy for Educational Development, Greeley Hall, 3rd Floor, 1875 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.  The forum will be hosted by the Mid-South Regional Resource Center and the Federal Resource Center. For further information, contact Michele Rovins at (202) 884-8210 or Jim Button at (202) 205-8239.

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