IDEA Funding Plan Draws Fire In Washington and Beyond

By Lisa Fine

Washington

A Senate measure that would require pouring additional billions of federal dollars into special education over the next 10 years continued to be welcomed in some quarters last week, but drew sharp criticism from the Bush administration, along with some special education advocates, educators, and lawmakers.

To mandate such a massive increase in funding without first re-examining how the nation educates students with disabilities would only perpetuate problems in the existing system, some critics of the plan said. Among the problems they cited were a lack of financing for efforts to ensure a supply of well-qualified teachers and to reach students with disabilities at a younger age, shortcomings that were seen as leading some students to be referred to special education unnecessarily.

A statement issued by the White House last week put the administration on the record as "strongly" opposing the amendment, which it...