POLICY WATCH NATIONAL

"Democrats Gain Symbolic Victory on Schools Bill," New York Times, 09/13/2002

Democrats won a rare victory on the floor of the House today when Republican leaders withdrew a bill to provide a limited number of low-income parents with a tax break for education expenses for their children.

The bill stands no chance of passing the Senate and therefore no chance of becoming law. So the wrangling today was almost entirely about election-year politics and not about getting legislation enacted.

But Republicans almost always win partisan skirmishes in the House because of their narrow majority. So Democrats were especially pleased with their ability to outsmart the Republicans today on the education measure.

"It is clear the Republican agenda is in disarray," said Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic whip.

Representative Charles B. Rangel, Democrat of Manhattan, said "Republican leaders were shut down by America's teachers, parents and administrators who know a sham education bill when they see it."[...]

"Paige Issues Statement on Report from President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education," Department of Education, 07/09/2002

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today released a statement on the final report from the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education, which was forwarded to President Bush last week.

Paige's statement follows:


"I applaud Gov. Branstad and the other members of the commission for their hard work and extra effort, which culminated in this report. I appreciate their ideas."

"This report, combined with the extensive feedback we have received from parents, teachers, and state and local policy makers, will provide us with a rich source of information to consider as we move forward with the re-authorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)."

"When we say no child left behind, we mean it literally: no child, regardless of race, ability, disability or zip code, should be left behind. We should hold kids with disabilities to the same standards as other kids. We should expect them—and help them—to reach the same goals. This is our charge."

President Bush ordered the creation of the 24-member President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education on Oct. 2, 2001 (Executive Order 13227). The commission held 13 public hearings and meetings throughout the nation and listened to the concerns and comments of hundreds of experts, parents, disabled students, teachers, principals, policy makers and the public. The commission submitted the report to the president on July 1, as required by the Executive Order.

"Kennedy takes on special-ed report," Washington Times, 07/09/2002

President Bush's commission charged with finding ways to improve special education releases its report today recommending, among other things, increased accountability for the federal special-education program and fewer paperwork requirements.

But Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, has some questions for the commission.
Mr. Kennedy convenes a hearing today before his Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee to examine the commission's findings and to question what he says is the commission's silence on mandatory funding increases for special education. He will also question the commission's call for the use of vouchers for parents of disabled children.
"I'm concerned that the commission did not take a stand on the commitment made by the federal government thirty years ago to fully fund special education," Mr. Kennedy said of the report, which was sent to Capitol Hill staff last week. "As a result of the failure to live up to that commitment, parents, teachers, students and schools across the nation continue to be cheated out of the resources they were promised."[...]

A presidential commission has recommended that federal special education funds be allowed to pay for the cost of private services or even private schools attended by disabled students, so long as those options are available to other students under state and local laws.

The proposal by the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education would significantly expand the range of private special education services now paid for with public funds by ensuring that special education money flows to charter schools and to private schools in districts that already have those educational options in place.

Students who attend charter schools or receive private school vouchers typically do so under a formula that pays predetermined sums per student. Also, local school systems often provide limited services for students whose parents shift them to private schools. In addition, school districts pay private school tuition for students whose special education needs cannot be accommodated in public schools.

Under the new proposal, parents of special education students in school districts where disabled students are not making adequate educational progress would also have the option of using federal money to pay for private services -- such as speech or occupational therapy -- for their children.[...]

"Bush Pushes High-Speed Internet Access," Associated Press, 06/14/2002

President Bush told technology executives Thursday that the country should move more quickly toward deploying high-speed Internet access. Company leaders said he was short on specifics.

Bush spoke after discussions between administration officials and executives such as AOL Time Warner chairman Steve Case and Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina.

His comments on high-speed Internet access, or broadband, were met with cheers from an industry battered by the post-Sept. 11 economic downturn and clamoring to deliver the attractive video and music that broadband makes possible.

"This country must be aggressive on the expansion of broadband," Bush said. "It is time for us to move with an agenda."

Several technology trade groups have floated broadband strategy proposals, though executives at the conference said the administration had few concrete proposals.

"What I didn't hear was what exactly the program or mandate that's different" from the previous administration, said John Chen, chairman of the database company Sybase.[...]