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(Rockville, MD–September 15, 2009) The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) is expressing strong support for the Everyone Deserves Unconditional Access to Education (EDUCATE) Act, a measure introduced today by U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
The bill would require increased funding for the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that would bring the law to a full funding level over a six-year period. Currently, IDEA is funded at less than half its authorized amount.
"ASHA applauds Rep. Van Hollen for introducing EDUCATE, for we can’t ever be too forward thinking and careful when it comes to providing for children in need," ASHA President Sue Hale says. "Once stimulus funds are used up, school districts may have to make deep and severe cuts in services if the economy doesn’t make a dramatic comeback before the 2010-2011 school year."
When Congress authorized the precursor to IDEA in 1975 there was an expectation that the federal government would help state and local educators meet specific civil rights and equal access requirements established under law. While those services and mandates have been required for decades, the federal share of IDEA funding has never exceeded 20%; currently, it hovers around 18%.
A net decline in state and local special education expenditures has forced many school districts to back-fill existing budget gaps with American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) funds. However, local districts have provided little or no new services with ARRA funds.
ASHA’s 53,000 school-based members work daily with millions of children with speech, language, and/or hearing impairments. Combined these students make up one-third of all students with disabilities. The other two-thirds of students with disabilities often have secondary and tertiary speech, language, or hearing issues.
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About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 135,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.
View all ASHA press releases at www.asha.org/about/news.
Listen to all ASHA podcasts at http://podcast.asha.org.
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