The 1984 Annual Report to Congress: Are we Better Off?

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Education 1984 Annual Report to Congress on progress in achieving the intent of P.L. 94-142 gives cause for thought and questions in the minds of local special education practitioners. Questions concern the extent to which there has been locally perceived progress in improving services to handicapped children, meaningfully characterizing that progress for critical audiences, and major initiatives yet to be addressed. In the opinion of the author, there have been both substantive and substantial improvements in local special education programs and services, in part attributable to the provisions in P.L. 94-142. Stability in local, state, and federal funding for programs and services remains a major area demanding attention.