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Progressive Policy Institute and Thomas B. Fordham Foundation
"Rethinking Special Education for a New Century"
On Wednesday, May 9th, a press conference will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC to announce the release of a new report entitled "Rethinking Special Education for a New Century". The report has been produced by the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation  and the Progressive Policy Institute . It consists of 14 original papers presenting findings, ideas, and recommendations for rethinking and improving the federal special education program.

According to the event announcement, the new report is expected to help shape the debate for the upcoming (2002) reauthorization of the IDEA and has been produced because

"Special education absorbs 38 cents of every new tax dollar raised for public schools, with total funding amounting to $35-$60 billion annually. Despite those staggering amounts, this important program has developed major failings over the 25 years since Congress enacted it. Much has been achieved for children with special needs but much has gone awry and more remains to be done.

This new volume examines how well some 6 million children are being served - and recommends sweeping changes in federal special ed policy. "Rethinking Special Education for a New Century" examines a program where

- Millions of children end up in special ed because they weren't properly taught to read at an early age;

- Compliance with regulations has taken precedence over student achievement, creating mountains of paperwork and clogged courtrooms; - An expanding and nebulous definition of who qualified has funneled 12 percent of all school children into special education;

- Prevention and early intervention remain low prioritites in a program that continues to focus on the identification and remediation of learning problems after they have grown severe;

- Double standards and special "accommodations" for disabled youngsters clash with efforts to boost academics performance and assure safe classrooms for all children;

- Race plays a disturbingly large role in the placement of children in special education; and

- Some families even agitate to have their children diagnosed as disabled to get extra time on tests, including college entrance exams."

The press conference is open to all. 9 AM-1015 AM, the First Amendment Room at the National Press Club, 529 14th St., NW, Washington, DC.

Chapter summaries of "Rethinking Special Education for a New Century" will be available by email Tuesday afternoon, May 8th.

Call Lu Leon or Leslie Blakey at 202.828.9100, or email luleon@starpower.net Of particular interest to those concerned with learning disabilities is Chapter 12, "Rethinking Learning Disabilities," co-authored by G. Reid Lyon, Chief of Child Development and Behavior at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health.

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