Vice
President Al Gore paid a visit to Three Rivers Middle School on October
4, 1999. Three Rivers Middle School is located in Pembroke, New Hampshire.
During his visit to this school, Mr. Gore talked about new steps to
help school districts give high quality education for all students,
including students with disabilities.
Vice
President Al Gore stated, "We must maintain and honor our commitment
to providing all our children --including those with disabilities -
a high quality education." He further stated, "This nation should be
proud that we have opened the doors of public schools to millions of
disabled children, and we must continue to remain committed to providing
quality education to all of our children. As President, I will remain
unalterably supportive of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act in order to maintain this fundamental commitment."
The
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is also known as IDEA. This
Act makes sure that children with disabilities are given a free public
education tailored to meet their specific needs.
Vice
President Al Gore stressed the importance of this Act and said he would
take the following steps to help meet the educational needs of all children:
1)
Have the federal government pay its fair share of special education
costs.
2)
Reduce local school district expenses to help educate students with
high-cost special needs.
3)
Give money to help identify children with special needs early and also
begin to educate them early to avoid unnecessary special education services
later.
4)
Give teachers training to teach all children how to help meet the needs
of children with disabilities.
Vice
President Al Gore also stated, "I want to bring about change that works
for teachers, parents, and all our nation's children - rich or poor,
of any race or ethnicity, with or without a disability and I will fight
to make sure each and every child receives the quality education they
deserve."
