CEC | CEC Denounces President’s Budget Proposal

CEC Denounces President’s Budget Proposal

Budget Proposal Threatens Critical Programs for Students with Disabilities and Gifts and Talents

ARLINGTON, VA, FEBRUARY 6, 2008—President Bush’s proposed 2009 budget does a disservice to special and gifted education, says the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). The President recommended that most programs receive the same funding level as last year, which results in a cut in funding when inflation is considered. While special education programs serving school-aged children received minimal funding increases, funding for programs that serve infants, toddlers and preschool children with disabilities was cut. Further, the President recommends eliminating the Javits program, the only federal program serving students with gifts and talents. In addition, the President’s budget shifts resources away from existing special and gifted education programs to support a voucher program for private schools.

“The President’s proposal takes dollars from perpetually under funded programs that support children with disabilities or gifts and talents, then uses public funding to support voucher-like programs,” says CEC’s Head of Public Policy Deb Ziegler. “Such policies shortchange all children, and especially children with exceptionalities, who attend public school.”

IDEA programs for early intervention services and special education for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers were also under funded. The administration’s proposed level funding of these programs comes after years of funding cuts. These cuts have resulted in a decrease of nearly $20 million for special education services for preschoolers over the past seven years and a cut of nearly $9 million for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities since 2004.

In addition, the President’s budget proposal decreases or level-funds programs such as personnel development, technical assistance, personnel preparation, research, and technology and media services—programs that help ensure personnel, parents, states, and localities have the tools to carry out IDEA’s goals.

“The administration’s denial of economic support for special and gifted education is disappointing,” says Ziegler. “As the federal government weakens its funding commitment to IDEA, it jeopardizes the programs that are the foundation of high quality education for children with disabilities. As the government withdraws its support for gifted education, it undermines the abilities of our schools to provide an appropriate education to these students—students whose contributions to society is critical.”

CEC supports full funding of IDEA and will continue to advocate to ensure special and gifted education receive adequate appropriations.

To read CEC’s funding and policy recommendations, go to www.cec.sped.org.

The Council for Exceptional Children, the leading association for special educators, works to improve the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts.

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