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< Public Policy

NEWS RELEASE
June 24, 2003

Contact: Laurie Jake, ATRA Communications Coordinator
Phone (480) 460-1525 or
Ann D Huston MPA, CTRS, ATRA Executive Director
Phone: (703) 683-9420

S. 1248, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2003

The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) supports the recently introduced S. 1248, entitled “The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2003”. S. 1248 represents a significant improvement from the House version H 1350. ATRA recognizes the leadership of Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) in providing the bi-partisan bill to advance education of individuals with disabilities. In addition, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is to be commended for developing bipartisan legislation that provides priorities in many difficult areas.

ATRA believes that S. 1248 makes several improvements to IDEA that will result in students with disabilities meeting higher standards and achieving greater educational results. Specifically the bill successfully addresses the need for states to do more around alternate assessments by creating Section 662(b)(3). The bill includes several provisions to increase the success of special education students who transition from school to the rest of their life. Specific requirements are added to the Rehabilitation Act and the bill strengthens the transition provisions of the Individualized Education Plan. The bill considers the "highly qualified" provisions of No Child Left Behind and applies them to special education teachers. It strengthens and expands personnel preparation and personnel development authorities for both special education personnel and general educators.

ATRA would further support strengthening the current provisions in S. 1248 by:

· Define “highly qualified” provider for related services to include those providers that are licensed, registered or certified, and competent to provide the related service.

· Eliminating the redirection of the research function from the Office of Special Education Programs to the Institute for Education Science. IES has not yet been established and has no track record in special education research.

· Revisit the provisions in S. 1248 that enable local education agencies to funnel IDEA funds to non-IDEA activities. Parents and disability advocates support full funding of IDEA however they are concerned when states have never effectively met their obligations to students with disabilities under current funding levels.

For more information, please contact the ATRA National Office at (703) 683-9420.

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The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) was founded in 1984 to advance the profession of therapeutic recreation. ATRA is a non-profit, professional membership organization dedicating 100% of resources and efforts to promote therapeutic recreation professionals in health care and human service settings. For more information, please contact the ATRA National Office at the information below.