bbernacchi on Improve Special Education programs

This is a personal issue for me because my mom is a Special Ed teacher, and her school district has huge problems with the Special Education system. Funding, accessibility, and quality of the programs top the list, and I'm disappointed with the consistent lack of equal opportunities the students receive.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was enacted in 1974, in which the federal government pledged to provide 40% of special education costs. The 40% has never been met (funding has never exceeded 15%), and in 2007 only 12% of the costs were covered. Cost is only part of the problem, but it's hard to overlook when these programs are so underfunded.

I think this article addresses the complexity of the issue really well: http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/16_03/Prom163.shtml