What can the Federal Government do to improve local school jurisdictions ability to provide services?
Increasing the Federal share of IDEA dollars is one small step, but it is not nearly enough and it should not be initiated in the absence of other Federal activity. Specifically, NCD recommends that: • The Departments of Education and Justice develop national compliance standards, improvement measures, and enforcement action triggers, with input from stakeholders including students with disabilities and parents, for consistency and clarity in the IDEA enforcement process. • Congress authorize more funding for Department of Education-sponsored technical assistance programs to support the development of state-level technical assistance networks, self-advocacy and monitoring training for students and parents, as well as free and low-cost legal services for families. • Congress authorize and fund the Department of Justice to independently investigate and litigate IDEA cases, as well as administer a federal system for handling pattern and practice complaints filed by individuals. • Congress
