President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education

This executive order establishes a 19-member presidential commission to study and recommend improvements to federal, state, and local special education programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The commission must submit a comprehensive report by April 30, 2002, analyzing special education effectiveness, costs, funding formulas, and accountability systems, then terminate 30 days later unless extended by the President.

Federal Register Open PDF 66 FR 51287

Impact dates

Apr 30, 2002
Commission report due to President
Nov 1, 2001
Commission terminates 30 days after submitting final report

Key directives

Establish President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education with up to 19 appointed members and up to 5 ex officio members from Education and HHS
Commission shall collect information and study federal, state, and local special education programs
Commission shall invite experts and public to provide information and guidance
Commission shall prepare and submit report to President not later than April 30, 2002
Report must examine special education effectiveness, costs, federal role, research agenda, early intervention in reading, funding formula alternatives, personnel recruitment/retention, inclusion in accountability systems, regulatory burden, local demographic effects, and 'supplement not supplant'/'maintenance of effort' requirements
Department of Education shall provide administrative support and funding
Commission terminates 30 days after submitting final report unless extended by President

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Commission establishment
President appoints members and designates Chairperson
Secretary of Education selects Executive Director

Near term (90d)

Commission begins collecting information and studying special education programs
Invites experts and public input

Long term

Final report due April 30, 2002
Commission terminates 30 days after report submission

Risks & tensions

Commission's short lifespan (terminate 30 days after report) limits implementation follow-through
No mandatory presidential or congressional response to recommendations required
Funding dependent on ED discretion 'to the extent permitted by law' and availability
Vague scope of 9 report elements could lead to uneven depth of analysis
Potential tension between state/local control advocates and federal accountability proponents on funding formula changes