Judy Woodruff:
In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a landmark federal law that gave students with disabilities the right to a free public education in the least restrictive environment. When Congress passed the law, it said the federal government would cover 40 percent of the average per-student cost.
But, 50 years later, federal funding sit’s at just about 10 percent. So, the majority of the money comes from state and local sources, which has stretched thin public schools required by law to provide this education.
David Bateman, American Institutes for Research: They aren’t able to actually fund appropriate one-on-one services for these kids, some kids who absolutely need this in order to make progress in the curriculum.
