SAMPLE THANK YOU LETTER FOR SENATORS KENNEDY, HAGEL & HARKIN:
Dear Senator:
I am writing to express my strong support for S 1159, the IDEA Full Funding Act. This act would ensure that Congress will be able to live up to its 32-year-old promise to pay 40 percent of the National Average per Pupil Expenditure for every child enrolled in special education. Funding programs that serve disabled students is one of the best barometers of our will to offer a quality education to every single student.
Funding the federal, state, local partnership to provide an equal educational opportunity for all students has not worked very well from the perspective of local school districts. While special education funding has received significant increases over the past seven years, funding has leveled off and even been cut in recent years. While all members of Congress are committed to the idea of fulfilling their 40 percent commitment, it is clear that we will never reach it through the appropriations process.
By making the increases to IDEA mandatory, the IDEA Full Funding Act ensures that Congress fulfills its commitment by 2015. During the IDEA reauthorization of 2004, a “glide path” was put into law to fully fund special education by 2011. Unfortunately, every year since, Congress has reduced its commitment to special education. In FY 2007, the funding level was $6.2 billion below the level authorized in the reauthorization representing just 17.2 percent instead of the promised 40 percent.
Once again, the shortfall is passed to local school districts, causing school districts to either raise taxes or redirect money planned for the instruction of non-disable students. The local tax base in most jurisdictions is simply too small to carry the high cost of providing the extra needed services to disabled children.
The failure of Congress to pay its fair share of special education costs has continued to occur while Congress is also calling for increased achievement for all students. Congress cannot have it both ways. If it is important for schools to improve achievement for all students then Congress must pay for the priorities it passes on to public schools.
I very much appreciate your leadership on this issue and look forward to working with you to see Congress finally meet its commitment.
Sincerely,
SAMPLE LETTER ENCOURAGING SENATOR KERRY TO SUPPORT THE IDEA BILL:
Dear Senator Kerry:
I urge you to offer your strong support for S 1159, the IDEA Full Funding Act. This act would ensure that Congress will be able to live up to its 32-year-old promise to pay 40 percent of the National Average per Pupil Expenditure for every child enrolled in special education. Funding programs that serve disabled students is one of the best barometers of our will to offer a quality education to every single student.
Funding the federal, state, local partnership to provide an equal educational opportunity for all students has not worked very well from the perspective of local school districts. While special education funding has received significant increases over the past seven years, funding has leveled off and even been cut in recent years. While all members of Congress are committed to the idea of fulfilling their 40 percent commitment, it is clear that we will never reach it through the appropriations process.
By making the increases to IDEA mandatory, the IDEA Full Funding Act ensures that Congress fulfills its commitment by 2015. During the IDEA reauthorization of 2004, a “glide path” was put into law to fully fund special education by 2011. Unfortunately, every year since, Congress has reduced its commitment to special education. In FY 2007, the funding level was $6.2 billion below the level authorized in the reauthorization representing just 17.2 percent instead of the promised 40 percent.
Once again, the shortfall is passed to local school districts, causing school districts to either raise taxes or redirect money planned for the instruction of non-disable students. The local tax base in most jurisdictions is simply too small to carry the high cost of providing the extra needed services to disabled children.
The failure of Congress to pay its fair share of special education costs has continued to occur while Congress is also calling for increased achievement for all students. Congress cannot have it both ways. If it is important for schools to improve achievement for all students then Congress must pay for the priorities it passes on to public schools.
I very much appreciate your leadership on this issue and look forward to seeing Congress finally meet its commitment.
Sincerely,