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School Choice and Special Ed
Extending Choice and Opportunity to Children With Disabilities

Thursday, February 13, 2003
8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Cato Institute
F. A. Hayek Auditorium
1000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001

Media Archives
Real Video: Morning Session, Luncheon Keynote, Afternoon Session
Real Audio: Morning Session, Luncheon Keynote, Afternoon Session

This spring, the 108th Congress prepares to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act. Since its passage in 1975, IDEA has been plagued with problems including an adversarial atmosphere, skyrocketing costs, unequal treatment of affluent and low-income children, an excessive focus on bureaucratic processes, and poor academic results. This year, special education experts are engaged in an energetic debate about the causes of and solutions to various problems in special education.

Can school choice for disabled children form part of a policy solution to the problems facing special ed? What kind of school choice would work best? Which problems might be solved through a policy emphasizing choice? How does Florida’s McKay Scholarship Program for disabled children work, and what are its results so far? What are the limitations of school choice as a policy solution?

A wide range of experts including current and former members of Congress, administration officials, child advocates, reformers, and academics will gather to discuss these and other issues.

		8:00–9:00 a.m. Registration–F. A. Hayek Auditorium Foyer 9:00–9:15 a.m. Welcoming Remarks David Salisbury Director, Center for Educational Freedom, Cato Institute 9:15–9:45 a.m. Keynote Address—“Challenges in Special Education” Robert H. Pasternack Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, U. S. Department of Education Video Audio 9:45–11:15 a.m. Panel 1 Problems in Special Education Video Audio Moderator: Charles Hokanson Staff Attorney, Committee on Education and the Workforce Rose-Marie Audette Attorney, Hogan & Hartson Video Audio Trent A. Barton Director of the Education Task Force, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Video Audio Kaleem Caire Project Director, American Education Reform Foundation Video Audio Jay Greene Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute Video Audio 11:15–11:30 a.m. Break 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. Panel 2 IDEA: Why School Choice Is Important to Reform Video Audio Moderator: Christina Culver Vice President for Public Affairs, Children First America Steve Bartlett Commissioner, President’s Commission on Special Education Video Audio Lewis M. Andrews Executive Director, Yankee Institute Video Audio Patrick Heffernan President, Florida CHILD Video Audio Marie Gryphon Policy Analyst, Cato Institute Video Audio 12:45–1:30 p.m. Lunch—Wintergarden 1:30–2:15 p.m. Luncheon Address—“School Choice and IDEA Reform in 2003” Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) 2:15–3:30 p.m. Panel 3 State-Level Reform: The Florida Experience Video Moderator: Krista Kafer Policy Analyst, Heritage Foundation Diane McCain Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy, Florida Department of Education Video Audio David Salisbury Director, Center for Educational Freedom, Cato Institute Video Audio Daniel Woodring General Counsel, Florida Department of Education Video Audio Patricia Hardman Director, Dyslexia Research Institute Video Audio