Remembering James Jeffords, Former Senator and Advocate for Students with Disabilities
August 25, 2014
James Jeffords, a former Republican-turned-Independent Senator from Vermont, passed away August 18th at the age of 80. Throughout his 30 years in Congress, Mr. Jeffords championed legislation to strengthen our nation’s education system and improve education for students with disabilities. In 1975 he co-authored what would become the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to provide equal access to education for students with disabilities, and continued to fight for full federal funding throughout his career. Among Senator Jeffords’ proud accomplishments are chairing the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, helping to shape the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the No Child Left Behind Act and the Higher Education Act, and authoring the legislation that created the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative (21st CCLC), a national after school and summer learning program.
Education Week – Former Sen. James Jeffords, Key Education Lawmaker, Dies at 80
The New York Times – Jim Jeffords, Who Altered Power in Senate, Dies at 80
The Boston Globe – James Jeffords, former Vt. senator, dies at 80
Los Angeles Times – Jim Jeffords dies at 80; Vermont senator who left the GOP in 2001
The Huffington Post – Jim Jeffords: A Founder of the Movement to Expand Afterschool Programs, a Hero to Children and Families
The Washington Post – James M. Jeffords, Vermont Republican who became independent, dies at 80