The 1997 Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Abstract

As national politics and the administration of policy become more complex and intertwined, the power of the federal bureaucracy has expanded in the area of policy-making, despite its lack of constitutional basis. This paper explores how a federal agency came to play a role in the national policy-making process, by following the initial efforts of the U.S. Department of Education in developing a reauthorization proposal for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, from its conception to the time the proposal was submitted to Congress in 1995. The federal bureaucracy's involvement comprised taking the initiative to make changes, seeking the input of various affected groups and professionals, and allowing for public participation to supplement the staff's own expertise.

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