Final answer:
Local school districts being required to provide facilities for physically handicapped students without additional funding from the federal government is an example of an unfunded mandate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The requirement that local school districts provide special facilities for the physically handicapped without additional federal government funding is an example of an unfunded mandate. An unfunded mandate is a federal law or regulation that imposes obligations on state and local governments without providing financial resources to cover administrative costs they incur.
Unfunded mandates have been used to achieve national objectives in various policy areas like education, environment, and civil rights. However, these mandates can be a source of dissatisfaction for state and local authorities due to the financial burdens they place without supplying the necessary funds. Despite serving as tools for promoting important national policies, like civil rights advancements, unfunded mandates often lead to objections from the states regarding the added financial strain without federal assistance.