1.1      A resolution&#10;1.2      memorializing the President and Congress to carry through on their pledge to fund 40 &#10;1.3      percent of special education costs.&#10;1.4      WHEREAS, in 1975 the Congress passed Public Law 94-142, the Individuals with &#10;1.5      Disabilities Education Act, and provided a national framework for providing free, appropriate &#10;1.6      public education to all students regardless of the level or severity of disability; and  &#10;1.7      WHEREAS, Congress in its initial passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education &#10;1.8      Act declared its intent to fund 40 percent of special education costs; and  &#10;1.9      WHEREAS, the federal government's share of funding for special education costs in &#10;1.10     Minnesota has never exceeded 16.5 percent of total special education costs; and  &#10;1.11     WHEREAS, since the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the states &#10;1.12     have been primarily responsible for providing funding for special education services; and &#10;1.13     WHEREAS, special education services are being provided to all eligible children in the &#10;1.14     State of Minnesota; and &#10;1.15     WHEREAS, many states, including Minnesota, must provide substantial state funding to &#10;1.16     fill the gaps left by Congress' unfunded promise; and &#10;1.17     WHEREAS, the recent increases in federal funds for schools, including the increases in &#10;1.18     special education funding, have come with substantial mandates and limitations on the use of &#10;1.19     funds; and &#10;2.1      WHEREAS, Congress is now currently debating the most effective ways to improve &#10;2.2      education among the states; NOW, THEREFORE, &#10;2.3      BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota  that Congress should &#10;2.4      speedily adhere to the goal to fund 40 percent of special education costs initially stated in the &#10;2.5      Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and appropriate to the states significant, genuine &#10;2.6      assistance to meet the needs of students with disabilities.&#10;2.7      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that federal maintenance of effort requirements should only &#10;2.8      apply to state appropriations for special education and not to local school district subsidies for &#10;2.9      special education from general education funds. &#10;2.10     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the  State of Minnesota is &#10;2.11     directed to prepare copies of this  memorial and transmit them to the President of  the United States, &#10;2.12     the President and the Secretary of the  United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United  &#10;2.13     States House of Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators and  Representatives in Congress.&#10;