H. Con. Res. 399
Agreed to October 4, 2000
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand
Concurrent Resolution
Whereas the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975
(Public Law 94–142) was signed into law 25 years ago on
November 29, 1975, and amended the State grant program under
part B of the Education of the Handicapped Act;
Whereas the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975
established the Federal policy of ensuring that all children,
regardless of the nature or severity of their disability, have avail-
able to them a free appropriate public education in the least
restrictive environment;
Whereas the Education of the Handicapped Act was further
amended by the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments
of 1986 (Public Law 99–457) to create a preschool grant program
for children with disabilities 3 to 5 years of age and an early
intervention program for infants and toddlers with disabilities
from birth through age 2;
Whereas the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of
1990 (Public Law 101–476) renamed the statute as the Individ-
uals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA);
Whereas IDEA currently serves an estimated 200,000 infants and
toddlers, 600,000 preschoolers, and 5,400,000 children 6 to 21
years of age;
Whereas IDEA has assisted in a dramatic reduction in the number
of children with developmental disabilities who must live in State
institutions away from their families;
Whereas the number of children with disabilities who complete
high school has grown significantly since the enactment of IDEA;
Whereas the number of children with disabilities who enroll in
college as freshmen has more than tripled since the enactment
of IDEA;
Whereas IDEA has raised the Nation’s expectations about the abili-
ties of children with disabilities by requiring access to the general
education curriculum;
Whereas improvements to IDEA made in 1997 changed the focus
of a child’s individualized education program from procedural
requirements placed upon teachers and related services personnel
to educational results for that child, thus improving academic
achievement;
H. Con. Res. 399—2
Whereas changes made in 1997 also addressed the need to imple-
ment behavioral assessments and intervention strategies for chil-
dren whose behavior impedes learning to ensure that they receive
appropriate supports in order to receive a quality education;
Whereas IDEA ensures full partnership between parents of children
with disabilities and education professionals in the design and
implementation of the educational services provided to children
with disabilities;
Whereas IDEA has supported the classrooms of this Nation by
providing Federal resources to the States and local schools to
help meet their obligation to educate all children with disabilities;
Whereas, while the Federal Government has not yet met its commit-
ment to fund part B of IDEA at 40 percent of the average
per pupil expenditure, it has made significant increases in part
B funding by increasing the appropriation by 115 percent since
1995, which is an increase of over $2,600,000,000;
Whereas the 1997 amendments to IDEA increased the amount
of Federal funds that have a direct impact on students through
improvements such as capping allowable State administrative
expenses, which ensures that nearly 99 percent of funding
increases directly reach local schools, and requiring mediation
upon request by parents in order to reduce costly litigation;
Whereas such amendments also ensured that students whose
schools cannot serve them appropriately and students who choose
to attend private, parochial, and charter schools have greater
access to free appropriate services outside of traditional public
schools;
Whereas IDEA has supported, through its discretionary programs,
more than two decades of research, demonstration, and training
in effective practices for educating children with disabilities,
enabling teachers, related services personnel, and administrators
effectively to meet the instructional needs of children with disabil-
ities of all ages;
Whereas Federal and State governments can support effective prac-
tices in the classroom to ensure appropriate and effective services
for children with disabilities; and
Whereas IDEA has succeeded in marshalling the resources of this
Nation to implement the promise of full participation in society
of children with disabilities: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concur-
ring), That the Congress—
(1) recognizes the 25th anniversary of the enactment of
the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (Public
Law 94–142);
(2) acknowledges the many and varied contributions of
children with disabilities, their parents, teachers, related serv-
ices personnel, and administrators; and
H. Con. Res. 399—3
(3) reaffirms its support for the Individuals with Disabil-
ities Education Act so that all children with disabilities have
access to a free appropriate public education.
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.