Increasing Funding for NCSER
In March of 2016, Friends of IES, led by Deb Ziegler of CEC, hosted an educational session for lawmakers on Capitol Hill showcasing research on transition for young people with disabilities. This session featured Erik Carter, Laurie Powers, David Test, and Mary Wagner, and was sponsored in cooperation with Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-‐TN), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-‐OR), and Rep. Michael Honda (D-‐CA).
At the CEC 2016 convention in St. Louis, an interdivisional group of researchers and division leaders, led by CEC-‐DR, met to brainstorm strategies to increase NCSER funding from the current $54 million to $70 million. This interdivisional group continues to meet virtually (we now have our own CEC community), and make plans for future work. Linda Lewis and I are leading this group on behalf of CEC and CEC-‐DR.
Given that the political landscape will be driven by the 2016 presidential and congressional elections, we anticipate that a federal budget is unlikely to be passed until 2017, and the government is likely to run on the basis of continuing resolutions until that time. Thus, CEC and CEC-‐DR (along with Friends of IES) are well positioned through the fall of 2016 to argue for increased funding for NCSER.
Here’s our long-‐term plan: We shall continue to take advantage of CEC’s strong relationship with the Friends of IES. The work of Friends of IES (and visits to the Hill by CEC-‐DR members) have clearly been successful this year in stopping proposed cuts to NCSER, and in obtaining the support of 27 members of Congress for increased NCSER funding.
Here’s our short-‐term strategy: We seek to advocate for NCSER funding at CEC’s July 2016 legislative summit and into
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the fall through visits on the Hill. In advance of the summit, CEC-‐DR and CEC are preparing documents to share with members of Congress, including a state map showing where NCSER funds have been distributed for the past decade. Many thanks to Linda Lewis for preparing the data, and to Deb Ziegler for working with CEC staff to create the documents. We can’t wait to storm the Hill in July on behalf of NCSER!
Clearly, the relentless advocacy of our members, and our relationship with Friends of IES continues to make a difference. We especially wish to thank those university federal relations officers who have taken on the fight for NCSER funding; their support and expertise are invaluable.
Special education research does make a difference, and so do your voices and your contributions. Let’s keep up the fight for increased funding for NCSER in the coming year.
In the meantime, be on the lookout for our new CEC-‐DR logo, to be unveiled later this summer.
Best wishes for a safe, productive, and restful summer!
News and links:
Friends of IES http://www.aera.net/Newsroom/AERAHighlightsE-‐ newsletter/AERAHighlightsApril2014/FriendsofIESLaunchesCoalitionEffort/tabid/15479/ Default.aspx
Follow CEC-‐DR on Facebook: Division for Research CEC DR
Follow CEC-‐DR on Twitter: CEC-‐DivisionResearch
And the beat goes on… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slldMEPvUqA