Use of the Public Law 94-142 Set-Aside Shows Both the Flexibility Intended by the Law and the Need for Improved Reporting
PEMD-85-5
Published: Jan 02, 1985. Publicly Released: Jan 09, 1985.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined how states are currently using funds set aside under P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, and analyzed the likely effect of a shift in the current set-aside proportion.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| The Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, Handicapped Subcommittee, should consider the fact that no national data have been available for monitoring or evaluating the set-aside program. The current regulations do not require the states to report even minimal information, such as the proportion they retain from their grants and the proportions they use for administration and direct and support services each year. If this basic information were available, it would at least be possible to track trends in state and local allocations and to determine, among other things, whether the states are continuing to make voluntary reductions in the set-aside. | The Subcommittee feels that this matter can be addressed by Education regulations, rather than congressional action. As of December 1986, Education had acted and received Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance. The information is now routinely collected and analyzed in the state plans. |
Full Report
Public Inquiries
Topics
Aid for educationChildren with disabilitiesCost controlEducation program evaluationFunds managementReporting requirementsSet-asidesSpecial educationState-administered programsSchool districts