{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-houchin-requests-gao-review-special-education-services", "Congresswoman Houchin Requests GAO Review of Special Education Services", "2024-12-05", "2024", "2024-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Erin Houchin", "H001093", "houchin.house.gov", "houchin", "https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09), along with Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05), has formally requested that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) review special education services for children with disabilities enrolled in private schools to determine possible under-identification. This effort aims to address significant gaps in the identification and provision of services mandated for students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).\n\n\u201cChildren with disabilities deserve access to the resources and support they need, regardless of the type of school they attend,\u201d said Congresswoman Houchin. \u201cIt is unacceptable that students in private schools may be overlooked, leaving them without the assistance provided by federal law.\u201d\n\nUnder IDEA, local educational agencies are required to evaluate all children with disabilities within their jurisdiction, including those enrolled by their parents in private schools. However, research suggests that only 3 percent of private school students are identified as having disabilities under IDEA\u2014far below the 6 to 9 percent estimated need and significantly lower than the 13 percent identification rate for public school students.\n\n\u201cThese discrepancies suggest widespread issues that must be addressed,\u201d added Congresswoman Houchin. \u201cThrough this review, we can ensure that children with disabilities in private schools are no longer left behind and receive the support they need, regardless of their educational setting.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Houchin remains committed to advocating for students with disabilities and their families, ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-houchin-requests-gao-review-special-education-services"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9266319684684277, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}