Intelligencer Journal Op-Ed

It’s time to fix Pennsylvania’s special education funding formula
BY VIRGINIA DAVIES BROWN

Pennsylvania last year adopted a landmark funding formula for basic education, putting more dollars into the neediest schools and implementing rigorous accountability measures for school districts. However, special education students were left out of the equation.

Local State Rep. Mike Sturla, D-96, has heard — loud and clear — the message that it’s time to address special education funding and accountability, and has introduced a bill addressing many of the long-standing deficiencies in the state’s special education system.

If passed, the bill will provide the resources needed from the state to deliver an appropriate education for special education students in Pennsylvania and relieve pressure on school boards to raise local property taxes.

Much like the basic education funding formula, which was based on a costing-out study performed by the private education policy consulting firm of Augenblick, Palaich and Associates Inc., the proposed funding formula for special education is based on a similar costing-out study conducted by the same firm.

This special education costing-out report, released in February 2009, indicates nearly 400 of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts are inadequately funding special education, averaging an annual shortfall of nearly $1 million per district.

Statewide, the total gap in annual funding for special education is $380 million. The average per pupil shortfall is $1,947, based on a total of 194,862 students in districts with a funding gap.

The report, which was funded by the Education Law Center of Pennsylvania, the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania and The Arc of Pennsylvania, identifies fundamental needs that often go underserved, such as proper teacher training, investment in assistive technology devices and materials and support programs to include students with disabilities in their neighborhood schools with their peers without disabilities.

The report also underscores the importance of finishing the funding reforms initiated last year, and outlines the broader benefits special education funding reform would provide to the entire school community, including reduced teacher turnover, improved educational outcomes and greater accountability for parents and taxpayers.

The School District of Lancaster, which educates approximately 2,200 special-education students, had a special-education funding gap of nearly $4,000 per student in 2006-07 — the year analyzed in the report.

In addition to the funding shortfall, figures from the Pennsylvania State Data Center show Lancaster is coming up short in its outcomes for special education students. While more than 300 of the state’s 500 districts have met their Adequate Yearly Progress targets for special education students under the No Child Left Behind law, Lancaster has not.

Put simply, establishing a new special education funding and accountability formula can help Lancaster and other school districts improve outcomes — not merely for special education students — but for all students. All students benefit when special education students receive an education preparing them for meaningful employment, higher education and self-sufficiency.

Hopefully the General Assembly will pass Rep. Sturla’s legislation this summer when they adopt a budget plan for fiscal year 2009-10.

Virginia Davies Brown is President of The Arc of Lancaster County, a nonprofit organization that provides advocacy and resources for citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.