The special education system developed as the result of civil rights legislation and because of a federal aid program. Since 1973, the civil rights laws have barred discrimination against the handicapped. The federal aid program was enacted in 1975 and declares that every disabled child must be provided a "free appropriate public education" which is tailored to suit his or her unique needs, whatever those needs may be. Washington at its peak covered about 12 percent of the cost, but the federal share today has been reduced to about 7 percent, leaving states and localities with the rest of the costs. The two approaches to the issue started in response to wrongs perpetrated within the educational system. Many handicapped students did not attend school at all in the early 1970s, and a series of successful lawsuits sought change and secured handicapped children the right to public education almost everywhere. By 1975, only two states did not provide schooling for these children. However, leaving the matter to the states was a slow and patchy process at best, so it was decided that a federal program would bring the service to everyone and provide funds as well. Today, the system is complex and serves some 5,000,000 and more youngsters. Each state is required to have a comprehensive plan for serving all disabled people ages 3 to 21 whether they are in school, the home, a hospital, or a jail. The more people a state serves, the more federal money it receives. Each school system has to provide all the services required for each child's individual education plan, even if this means hiring more staff, paying tuition to private schools, or some other approach (Finn 46-47).
The law providing funding for special education is known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Critics see this system as extravagant and as usurping funds needed for general public education. The New York school district of Mahopac Centra...