Last week’s report of the GAO’s (Government Accountability Office) report showing tremendous duplication of programs and services did create waves. Both parties apparently found lots to like in the report. Yet, as I read reactions around the country, I could not help but wonder why there was no mention of this: Do we really need three federal laws and 50 state laws to educate children with disabilities? Today, we have the federal special education law (IDEA), Section 504, and the ADAAA (Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act), as well as laws in the 50 states, etc. As an attorney who represents public schools, I can tell you that these laws create much overlap and confusion, making it harder for school personnel to focus attention on student needs– and not compliance with contradictory and overlapping regulatory requirements.
Has anyone actually looked at the reality that schools and parents face? Can we do better with fewer laws and programs? Can simplifying redundancy help us serve all students more effectively? Can we target services without diffusing efforts? Perhaps this GAO report will help us to apropriately winnow our current duplicative efforts. Let us hope.
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