Fast Report

08/08/06 -- Education funding cuts proposed for 2007

Both the House and Senate Appropriations committees have approved bills would basically level-fund Title 1 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in fiscal 2007, eliminate several programs, and cut funding for many others.

The bills would provide just $12.7 billion for Title I, even though Congress had authorized $25 billion for 2007 when it enacted the No Child Left Behind Act. For IDEA, the Senate would provide $10.6 billion; the House $10.7 billion. Con­gress had promised $16.9 billion for 2007 when it passed the IDEA Improvement Act of 2004.

Education Department launches pilot on ELLs

• The U.S. Education Department announced July 27 it will collaborate with about 20 states on developing better methods of testing English language learners (ELLs).

The department will invite states whose No Child Left Behind assessment plans have not been approved because of deficiencies in their plans for testing ELLs to participate in a pilot program. These states will be given technical assistance in these areas:

• developing valid math and reading content assessments in Spanish;

• determining the effectiveness of testing ELLs for content using less complex language;

• aligning language proficiency with content assessment; and

• evaluating the appropriateness of various testing accommodations, such as dictionaries.

For states that agree to participate in this pilot program, the Education Department would “hold in abeyance” fines that could be levied against them for having unacceptable assessments for ELLs, said Deputy Assistant Secretary Ray Simon.

“In our view, this announcement simply restates the department’s current responsibility to provide technical assistance to states,” said Reggie Felton, NSBA’s director of federal relations. “There does not appear to be any additional funds; nor are there any new provisions for additional relief to local school districts that must deal with a flawed accountability system.”

Just the day before, the U.S. General Accountability Office released a report finding that the department had not given states sufficient written guidance on how to create effective standards and assessments for ELLs.

Committee addresses Medicaid issue

• The Senate Appropriations Committee has expressed opposition to the Bush Administration’s plan to prohibit schools from submitting claims for Medicaid reimbursement for transportation and administrative costs associated with special education services for Medicaid-eligible students.

The disapproval is expressed in the committee report accompanying the Senate fiscal year 2007 funding bill for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education.

The committee directed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of HHS, to submit a report to the Appropriations Committee by March 1, 2007, examining the impact of the proposed policy change on the availability of services for students with disabilities. It urges CMS not to act on the proposal until the committee has reviewed the report.

If the Administration’s policy change goes forward, school districts could lose as much as $3.6 billion over the next five years. NSBA had objected to the CMS policy change and urged Con­gress to address the issue.

While committee report language is not binding, it is a strong signal to the Administration that Con­gress disapproves of the proposed policy change. NSBA hopes it will cause CMS to think twice before taking such drastic action.

More comprehensive legislation on this issue was introduced July 19 by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Reps. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), George Miller (D-Calif.), and Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.).

The Protecting Children’s Health in Schools Act of 2006 would ensure that districts could continue to receive reimbursements from Medicaid for transportation and administrative services. It also set forth payment requirements for items, services, and administrative expenses in an education program or setting and would improve accountability to ensure the funds are distributed properly.

Resources on pandemic available

• The Missouri School Boards Association’s Education Solutions Global Network (ESGN) has produced a DVD of its program on planning for a pandemic, which was broadcast in June.

The 90-minute DVD, “The Facts on Pandemic Flu -- Keys for Schools in Planning, Preparedness, and Procedures,” provides practical information for school board members, superintendents, school health professionals, counselors, and other educators nationwide.

The program features NSBA Executive Director Anne L. Bryant and Eddie Hedrick, senior epidemiology specialist at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.