CEC Legislative Update November 20, 2004
On Friday, November 19, Congress passed legislation to reauthorize IDEA. The House passed the bill in the afternoon by a vote of 397-3, and the Senate followed suit late Friday evening, passing the measure by voice vote. The voting in both chambers came after three weeks of deliberations by the IDEA conference committee, which discharged the bill on November 17.
Please be assured that CEC will continue to follow the action on IDEA, from the President signing it into law, to the writing of regulations, to implementation. CEC will also provide a summary and analysis of key issues in IDEA in the near future. Check our Web site for updates.
President Bush Nominates Margaret Spellings to Assume Top Education Post
This week President Bush named White House domestic policy advisor Margaret Spellings to take Rod Paige's place as Education Secretary. Spellings, who has been an advisor to Bush for over a decade, was an influential player in the development of No Child Left Behind, Bush's landmark education policy. Washington political observers do not anticipate any changes in the direction of national educational policy once the Senate confirms Spellings. Spellings is expected to be confirmed with relative ease. CEC will keep you updated on developments in the Spelling confirmation process.