Principals association says IDEA needs to change

From The Washington Times:

The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is up for congressional reauthorization in 2010, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) last week released a report that offers data and insight and makes recommendations.

For example, between 1995 and 2004, the number of students receiving IDEA services rose from 5.1 million to more than 6.1 million, "and the largest increase occurred for students in middle level and high schools," the report says.

The study also points out that English-language learners are overrepresented in special education classes, suggesting that most teachers have difficulty distinguishing students with learning disabilities from students struggling for other reasons, such as limited English.

The report was the work of the NASSP's National Task Force on IDEA, which was formed in 2007 to help develop specific recommendations.

One of those recommendations is a call for autism research.

"Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the nation. Currently, one in 150 individuals are likely diagnosed with autism," the report says. "However, very little research and development exists in regards to how best to serve students with autism."

The report calls for more research and urges policymakers to develop a common set of standards of care and assessments for each disability cited in IDEA.

The full report is available at www.principals.org/s_nassp/index.asp?CID=1138&DID=54609.