That legislation (HB 704, and its companion, SB 940), provides the resources needed from the state to deliver an appropriate education for students who receive special education in Pennsylvania, and relieves pressure on school boards to raise local property taxes to meet increasing costs for these essential instructional services. Nearly 80 legislators have sponsored these bills to date on a bi-partisan basis.

Funding this crucial education reform in 2009-10 is possible through the federal education stimulus money. Using stimulus dollars to improve education for students with disabilities is not only a fiscally sound approach, but also represents a unique opportunity to address the needs of these often under-served students.

Much like the new basic education funding formula, which was adopted based on a costing-out study performed by the national education consulting firm Augenblick, Palaich and Associates, Inc., the proposed funding formula for special education is based on a similar 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 have inadequate funding for special education. 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 developed at the request of the Education Law Center of PA, the Disability Rights Network of PA and The Arc of Pennsylvania, identifies fundamental needs that often go under-served, such as proper teacher training, investment in assistive technology devices and materials, and support programs to include students with disabilities in their neighborhood schools.

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.

Several Bucks County school districts struggle to provide adequate resources to students with disabilities. The Bristol Borough School District, for instance, educates approximately 300 students who receive special education services, more than 20 percent of its total student population. In 2006-07, the year analyzed in the report, Bristol Borough had a special education funding gap of nearly $1,000 per student.

The current legislation would address special education funding shortfalls in districts such as Bristol Borough, Pennridge, and Quakertown Community School districts. The report documents a countywide shortfall in special education funding of just over $1 million. HB 704 would gradually increase funding to close this gap over several years and provide relief for local property taxes.

Put simply, establishing a new special education funding and accountability system can help Bucks County school districts improve outcomes – not merely for students who receive special education services – but for all students. Because the whole community benefits when children with disabilities receive an education preparing them for meaningful employment, higher education, and self-sufficiency.

The full report on Costing-Out the Resources Needed to Meet Pennsylvania’s Education Goals for Students with Disabilities is available at www.reformspecialedfunding.org.

June 30, 2009