The National Teachers Association (NTA) praised the Legislature on Sunday for amending the Special Education Act (特殊教育法) to raise the cap on the central government’s funding for special education to 4.5 percent of its overall educational budget.

The government would have more money to spend on special education after lawmakers agreed on Friday to raise the ceiling from 3 percent to 4.5 percent, the association said.

Describing the amendment as “a new era for the provision of special educational services [to students],” the association said in a statement that teachers teaching regular classes could receive more resources and support from school authorities if children needing special education were placed in their classes.

Special education schools will now be able to set up branches in other cities or counties so that students would not have to travel long distances to attend school, the association said.

Seven cities and counties have no special education schools.

The amendment would also expand special educational programs to children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.