Washington Updates Archive

Note: This is the archive of Washington Updates from the ConnSENSE Bulletin dating back to early 2000.

Supreme Court Addresses Parental Rights in IDEA 3/3/07
President’s Budget Reveals Lack of Commitment to Kids with Disabilities; Gifts and Talents 2/5/07
CEC to Co-Host Congressional Briefing on Universal Design for Learning 2/2/07
President's State of the Union Touches on Renewing No Child Left Behind 1/26/07
CEC Reflects on Highlights in Special, Gifted Education in 2006; Presses for More Congressional Action in 2007 12/20/06
Senate Passes Ryan White HIV/AIDS Legislation 12/15/06
Landmark Autism Legislation Reaches President’s Desk; Directs Nearly $1Billion to Research, Public Awareness 12/8/06
CEC IDEA Workshops Enlighten Attendees on New Regulations 12/5/06
Congress Returns to Washington for Lame Duck Session; Uncertainty Exists for Education Funding 11/17/06
Democrats Gain Control of House and Senate in Election Day Sweep 11/11/06
Special, Gifted Education Funding; Medicaid Tops CEC’s November Advocacy Activities 11/3/06
Advocate for Students with Disabilities, Gifts and Talents As Election Day Nears 10/27/06
What Works Clearinghouse Releases a Series of New Reports 10/20/06

CEC Offers IDEA Workshops Across the U.S. - 01/07/05
U.S. Dept. of Ed. wants your input on IDEA 2004 Regulations Bev Johns - 12/31/04
CEC Looks Back at 2004 and Ahead to 2005 - 12/17/04
President Signs Omnibus Appropriations Legislation - 12/10/04
Congress Passes IDEA Bill - 11/19/04
President Signs Bill to Increase Amount Forgiven on Teacher Student Loans - 11/06/04
President Signs AT Legislation into Law - 10/30/04
Urge Congress to Adopt All of CEC's IDEA Conference Recommendations - 10/15/04
House Passes AT Bill! - 10/12/04
List of House IDEA Conferees - 10/12/04
House Appoints Conferees to IDEA! - 10/08/04
House Must Act on AT Bill Now! - 10/08/04
Senate Passes Tech Act Bill - 10/01/04
CEC BREAKING NEWS: Senate Appoints Conferees to IDEA Conference - 09/22/04
Senate Democrats Call for Effective Implementation of School Reforms - 09/17/04

U.S. Dept. of Education Funding Opportunities - 08/16/04
Sign Up for CEC's Free E-Newsletter - 07/30/04
- GAO: Lack of Coordination Resulting in States' Failure to Meet Special Ed. Teacher Requirements under NCLB
- 14th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
CEC Policy - ED's "What's Works ClearingHouse" Now Available on-line - 07/23/04
Miller and Kennedy Introduce Legislation to Increase Funding for NCLB - 7/09/04
CEC Supports Bill Enabling Schools to Retroactively Meet Adequate Yearly Progress Requirements - 7/06/04
New AT Bill Provides More Direct Aid
- Kennedy Miller Introduce NCLB Fairness Act - 6/25/04
Congress Suspends Business to Honor Regan
- Kerry Names Ogle to Advise on Disability Issues - 6/11/04
House Educ. Committee Passes Bill to Improve Access to Assistive Technology - 6/04/04
CEC Policy: FY '05 Budget Update - 05/27/04

President Bush to Nominate Hager to OSERS - 05/25/04
Assistive Technology Act Marked Up in the House - 05/21/04
Senate Concludes First Day of IDEA Debate - 05/12/04
Senate Passes bill to help children with disabilities
- Senate May Consider IDEA Next Week?? - 05/07/04
CEC Policy: Harken Urges Reversal of Captioning Decision 04/24/04
New NCLB Policy for Calculating Participation - 04/-3/04
Republicans Block Education Amendment to Fully Fund the NCLB Act - 03/19/04
Senators Introduce Bill to Fully Fund NCLB - 03/12/04

Special Education Funding Opportunities - 03/05/04
IDEA Reauthorization Update - 02/29/04
Full Funding IDEA Bill Introduced - CEC Action Alert!
CEC Disapointed with President's FY '05 Budget Proposal 02/05/04
- Fails to keep Full Funding Promise for IDEA
- Proposes to move IDEA research programs out of the Office of Special Education Programs.
- Proposes to eliminate funding for Javits Gifted and Talented Students Act.

Senate Passes Legislation to Fund D.C. Voucher Program 01/29/04
CEC Policy: FY'04 Appropriations 01/23/04

CEC Policy: AYP Change & Autism Roadmap 12/23/03
CEC's Summary of New Regulations for Title I 12/10/03
New AYP Regulations for Students with Disabilities 12/09/03
Senate Passes D.C. Appropriations Bill Without Voucher Program 11/21/03
CEC Action Alert! - Conferees vote on Omnibus FY'04 Appropriations This Week! Note: Rosa DeLora is on the Conference Committee. 11/18/03
Policy: Math Scores Up on Nations's Report Card 11/14/03
IDEA & Appropriations Updates 11/11/03
President Bush names financial person from Dept. of Agriculture to third highest position at Dept. of Education 11/3/03
FY '04 Appropriations Update 10/24/03
CEC Policy: FY '04 Appropriations Update 10/10/03
Bill Raises Awareness of Gifted & Talented Needs 10/02/03

CEC Policy: IDEA Reauthorization Update 09/25/03
Policy: FY 2004 Appropriations 09/18/03
CEC Policy: Senate Gives IDEA Part B $2.2 Billion for FY '04 09/12/03

ACTION ALERT - Contact Congress this month on IDEA Reauthorization! 08/07/03
House Narrowly Passes Head Start Bill that many feel is an attempt to dismantle the program 08/01/03
CEC Policy Update - Grant Applications for IDEA Part D Programs 07/25/03
Education Dept. plans to Dismantle ERIC System 07/18/03
The Nation's Report Card 07/04/03
House Committee Marks Up Head Start Reauthorization Bill 06/27/03
HELP Committee Passes Bipartisan IDEA Reauthorization 06/26/03
Senate Committee passes IDEA Reauthorization Bill 06/25/03
CEC Supports Majority of Items in Senate IDEA Bill 06/22/03
Summary of Senate Reauthorization Bill 06/13/03
Senate Introduces Bill to Reauthorize IDEA 06/12/03
CEC Issues Final Analysis of HR 1350 06/10/03
Policy: Analysis of Head Start Bill 06/05/03
FY '04 Appropriations Updage 05/30/03
CEC: Senate Passes Tax Plan 05/23/03
Policy: CEC Opposes Bill on Children & Medication 05/16/03
Policy: Be Prepared - Senate Bill Looming! 05/15/03
Senate Committee Chair Applauds Passage of House IDEA Bill 05/01/03
House Passes IDEA Reauthorization Bill 251 to 171 04/30/03
H.R. 1350 to be Considered Next Week by House 04/25/03
House IDEA Bill Contains Damaging Provisions for Part D Research Programs 04/23/03
House to Vote on IDEA Reauthorization as soon as next week

Gifted Funding Proposed and Technology Toolkit 04/18/03
IDEA Alert - Link to Letter on Legislative Action Center 04/16/03
CEC Votes to Oppose House IDEA Bill 0415/03
Alert on Discipline 04/07/03
IDEA Reauthorization - What you can do 04/02/03
IDEA Reauthorization Update 3/28/03
CAN Alert! The House Education Committee is trying to push the IDEA Reauthorization Bill through prior to the April Recess. CEC would like us to contact our Committee mebers to ask them to slow down. 50 committee members, but only one from New England - John F. Tierney, Massachusetts 3/25/03

Policy Update: Fiscal Year 2004 Appropriations Process 3/20/03
House Republicans Introduce Bill to Reauthorize IDEA 3/19/20
Policy Update: CEC Proposes 3-Year IEPs 3/14/03
Hearings have begun for FY'04 Budget 03/07/03
Policy: President Signs FY '03 Appropriations Bill 02/28/03
CEC Policy: FY 2002 Appropriations Finally Completed! 02/21/03
CEC Policy: Appropriations Update and President's FY '04 Budget Request 02/10/03
Policy: Update on IDEA Reauthorization and Conferees for FY '03 Appropriations 01/31/03
CEC Policy Update: Fiscal Year 2003 appropriations 01/28/03
Congress is back considering the budget and other legislation 01/17/03
Congress returns with new leaders and a full plate 01/10/03

Policy: No Child Left Behind provides new guidance on "highly qualified teachers" 01/03/03
Policy Update: CEC Seeks Members' Comments on Accessible curricula 11/22/02
Policy: House Passes Continuing Resolution through January 11th. 11/15/02
Republicans gain control of Senate and make gains in House 11/08/02
House passes Castle Education Research Reform Bill 11/01/02
Policy - House passes 3rd Continuing Resolution 10/17/02

Policy - House passes 2nd Continuing Resolution 10/04/02
Policy update: Eliminate unproven or ineffective education programs, house committee critical of Bush's education budget, racial inequity in special education. 9/27/26
CEC disappointed with House '03 Appropriations, CEC attends White House event, ED holds regional meetions on NCLB. 9/13/02
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) provides a detailed review of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 including its implications for the special education field. 9/10/02
CEC analysis of the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education Final Report in html format or in PDF format.

CEC Policy Alert! - Action is needed today! 8/09/02
Update - Congress recesses, Grizzard first Assistant Secretary of OSED. 8/02/02
CEC Policy - Governors adopt new special education policy. 7/26/02
Policy - Senate subcommittee passes FY' 03 appropriations bill 7/19/02
Policy - House & Senate held hearings on President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education. 7/12/02
President Commission's Report now available and you'll probably want to download it, 7/10/02
Policy Update: School vouchers and CEC concerns, President of accreditation council comments on Dept. of Ed. report on teacher quality, 6/28/02
Policy Update: Write to your members of congress, 6/21/02
Secretary of Education comments on IDEA, ESEA's Teacher Quality Provisions, and State Teacher Certification Systems, 6/14/02
CEC Update: President's Commission meets, but doesn't distribute recommendations, House seeks input on IDEA, & Funding for teachers of children with autism. 6/07/02
CEC's IDEA Recommendations. 5/23/02
Policy Update: Testimony of Sp. Ed. Paperwork Burden, accountability, and parental choice. 5/10/20

Policy Update: Hearings on IDEA, Report on Sp. Ed. Preschool Grants, and more. 5/03/02
Special Ed. Reform Hearing, Regional Meetings on No Child Left Behind, and more. 4/25/02
OSERS head, Robert Paskernack, issues a State of OSER Memo that is very comprehensive and informative. April 12, 2002.
Senate Budget Committee passed its FY 2003 budget resolution (along party lines) that includes mandatory full funding of Part B of IDEA within six years. Senate holds IDEA hearing, CEC letter to House Committee on OERI Reauthorization Bill, and CEC urges memberrs to comment on Rehab Act Reauthorization. March 22, 2002.

Policy Update - ED strategic plan, Survey: education and defense top priorites, Funding and the role of bias in special education.

Policy Update - President releases FY '03 budget request. Request is for $1 billion more for IDEA Part B, but he did not request funding for the Jacob Javits Act for children with gifts and talents, which received $11.3 million in FY 2002.
Policy Update: 1/25/02 - President's budget to focus on disadvantaged and special needs children, and ED to hold reading academies to prepare states and districts for Reading First.
Policy Update - CEC addresses President Bush's Commission on Special Education, Send copies of your IDEA comments to CEC, ED issues forecast of funding opportunities for FY 2002, and ED Dept. isssues summary of new ESEA Law.
Update - OSERS requests comment on IDEA, Rally for ESEA Law, Announcement of President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education meeting. (1/11/02)
CEC Update - OSEP policy letters online, HHS sends report to president on new freedom initiative, over 17,000 messages delivered through action center, and letters to send to ESEA conferees. (1/4/020
CEC Update - Congress adjourns, Congress passes ESEA, IDEA Part B almost $1.2 Billion more for Fiscal Year 2002, and President's Commission on Excellence in Sp. Ed. meets in Mid-January (12/28/01)

CEC Legislative Update - Senator Harkin tried again to get his IDEA full funding amendment passed, but failed. The full House passed the conference report on Thursday. Full Senate will debate the report on Monday and vote on the measure on Tuesday 12/14/01
CEC Policy Update - IDEA Full Funding is defeated in conference, but efforts to amend the language on discipline was also defeated. 11/30/01
ESEA Conferees to Vote on IDEA Full Funding Friday, November 30, 2001.

CEC Policy Update - 11/21/01 Congress is on a Thanksgiving Recess and CEC suggests that this is a good time for you to contract your members of Congress and urge them to support full funding for IDEA, Oppose any new discipline amendments to IDEA, and support the Senate provisions on gifted education.
IDEA Implementation and Reauthorization Discussion Paper from The Council for Exceptional Children (11/16/01)
CEC Policy Update - 11/9/01 Senate passes FY2002 Funding Bill; Conferees named, IDEA Discipline, Full Funding still up in the air in ESEA, and D.C. Appropriations bill contains IDEA Attorneys' fees cap.
"Full funding" is NOT full funding. Another opinion piece on reauthorization of IDEA - 10/26/01

Policy Alert - Help needed to preserve services for students with disabilities, full funding, and gifted education. July 27, 2001.
CEC Public Policy Alert The ESEA conference committee has been appointed to resolve the difference between House and Senate ESEA bills. The committee needs to receive a very loud and strong message on several topics. The three CEC priorities are listed as well as the names of the congresspeople on the committee. June 21, 2001.
Washington Update from RESNA -- Check this one out. There are several items having to do with technology activities in Washington (June 8, 2001).
Educational Technology the focus of three new publications (June 5, 2001)
APA Public Policy Update, also provides instructions on signing on to the APA (Americal Psychological Association) list to keep you up to date on congressional activity regarding psychology (June 3, 2001).
Another Call for Action regarding Sessions and Bond ammendments. (June3, 2001)
Contact your senators to oppose Senators Sessions and Bond amendments which would eliminate the need to educate students with disabilities removed from school, ESEA status in the House, Senator Jeffords Party Switch, Notices inviting grand applications, and the condition on Education 2001.
ESEA debate continues and will include more amendments that threaten the discipline provisions currently in IDEA, CEC is working with Congress to promote learning opportunities for children with gifts and talents, and more amendments you need to be concerned about and let your house member know your feelings.

ARC indicates that Senator Sessions is to offer IDEA Discipline Amendments that would gut the due process protections for students with disabilities. The net result is to segregate or exclude students with disabilities.
ESEA debate/Budget Resolution Continues, The Budget conferees may reject an amendment which would have added $70 billion for special education, and CEC and other professional organizations send a letter to all Senators to urge they support alternative services for expelled or suspended students. (5/4/2001)
Action stalled on Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) over both money and policy, CEC's response to wording in proposed legislation that would require schools to develop policy allowing for expulsion and termination of educational services for students with disabilities for even minor offenses, The budget goes to conference committee, and CEC asks president Bush to support the Senate Budget Resolution (4/27/01)
President Bush announces his fiscal year 2002 budget, which provides the Education Department with the largest increase of any domestic cabinet agency. Included is the statement by Secretary Paige. A website for more information on the budget is also provided. (4/12/01)
CEC Update: 4/6/01 - Senate passes 2002 Budget with an ammendment by Senator Harkin. The amendment "No Child Left Behind" contained mandatory full funding for IDEA as well as increased investments in early education programs. Included is a list of the Senators that voted for the ammendments so you can call to thank then. The bill goes on to a conference committee to resolve differences with the House passed budget.
CEC Policy Update:3/30/01 - House passes 2002 Budget, Status on IDEA full funding, President's "No Child Left Behind" legislation introduced in the House, Gifted and Talented need your help now!, Early Head Start Funding Opportunity, and President Announces top education appointments.

CEC Policy, February 16 - CEC Full Funding Campaign, Disability Groups Applaud ETS' Decision to Stop "Flagging" Standardized Tests, and more.
Action Alert: FCC May Sell FM Band! (2/12/2001)
CEC Policy Update: February 2, 2001
President Bush announces his new Freedom Initiative for individuals with disabilities. Specific attention given to assistive technology (2/1/2001)
CEC Policy Update: January 26, 2001
CEC Policy Update: January 12, 2001
CEC Policy Update: January 5, 2001
CEC Policy Update: December 13, 2000
CEC Policy Update: December 8, 2000
CEC Policy Update: December 1, 2000

==================================== Prior to December 1, 2000

Washington Update for Week ending February 11, 2000 (2/17/2000)
Update on America's Education Goals (added 2/17/2000)
CEC's Policy Update (2/24/2000)
National Education Goals Panel Update (3/4/2000)
Access standards for Electronic and Information Technoogy (3/7/2000)
ADA and the Internet (3/8/2000)
CEC Policy Update (3/10/2000)
Illinois Superintendent Recommends One Category (3/15/2000)
National Education Goals Panel Report (3/16/2000)
Washington Update week ending March 17, 2000
CEC Policy Update Part 1 (3/24/2000)
CEC Policy Update Part 2 (3/24/2000)
NEGP Weekly for March 23, 2000
Washington Update for week ending March 24, 2000
Standards Proposed for Federal Electronic and Information Technology
CEC Policy Update URGENT 5/5/2000
IDEA Threatened: WE NEED ACTION TODAY5/11/2000
Senate Appropriations Committee Mark Up (5/16/2000)
Washington Update: Week ending May 12, 2000
CEC Strongly Opposes Ashcroft's New Amendment (5/19/2000)
CEC Policy Update, May 26, 2000
CEC Policy Update, June 2, 2000
CEC Policy Update, June 9, 2000
CEC Policy Update, June 30, 2000
OSEP Release of IEP Guide (7/5/2000)
CEC Policy Update, July 7, 2000
CEC Policy Update, July 31, 2000
Washington Update: October 13, 2000
CEC Policy Update: October 20, 2000
The Family Organization Act Could Still Pass if We Take Action! (10/24/2000)
CEC Policy Update: October 27, 2000
FY2001 Appropriations Bill in Jeopardy (10/31/2000)
Increased Special Education Funding at Risk! (10/31/20000)