Editorial: Education legislation offers hope

Tuesday, June 19, 2001 | 8:41 a.m.

It was promising last week when, by a 91-8 vote, the U.S. Senate passed a sweeping overhaul of the nation's education policy. Not only will there be more testing of students to ensure that they're showing progress in basic skills, but there also will be a hefty infusion of federal dollars in an effort to improve their academic achievement.

One provision of the legislation that was particularly important for fast-growing school districts, such as Clark County, was an amendment offered by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev. The amendment will require the federal government to update each year the number of students in states who qualify for assistance to pay for aides and reading programs for pupils who come from low-income families. Currently not all those numbers are updated annually, a fact that has hurt Clark County.

It also was significant that the bill dramatically increases the amount of federal aid to public schools' special education programs. In 1975 Congress passed long-overdue legislation that ensured that children with disabilities would receive the same type of education as any able-bodied student. At that time Congress indicated the federal government would absorb 40 percent of the costs to teach special needs children, but unfortunately that pledge wasn't kept. Typically Congress hasn't provided more than 15 percent of what it costs to offer special education. As the Sun's Washington correspondent, Benjamin Grove, reported Monday, the costs of special education are exceptionally high in the Clark County School District. Of the district's 231,000 students, 24,500 are in the special education program. Special education requires a higher expenditure than regul ar education: Special education students account for $221 million of the district's $1.2 billion budget.

Education has been one of the most divisive political issues in recent years. So it was somewhat remarkable that politically polar opposites, such as Sen. Edward Kennedy and President Bush, could agree on a massive education bill. Still, it's not over yet. The Senate must reconcile its version with the House's legislation, which isn't as generous. Money alone won't solve all the problems associated with an education system that isn't adequately preparing children. The students themselves and their parents need to find it within themselves to continuously strive for higher achievement. But money still is a key ingredient in providing for a quality education, so it is hoped that the House concurs with the endorsement that the president has given to the Senate's education legislation.