|
|
Article: Debunking a special education myth: don't blame private options for rising costs.(check the facts)
- Article from:
- Education Next
- Article date:
- March 22, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Hoover Institution Press. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Can spiraling special education costs explain why educational achievement remained stagnant over the past three decades while real education spending more than doubled? Policy makers, education researchers, and school district officials often make this claim. Special education students--goes the argument--are draining resources away from regular education students.
In 1975, the federal government enacted the Education of All Handicapped Children Act, now called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which requires states to provide a "free appropriate public education" to all students with disabilities. Parents have the right to work with school ...