This is it. Big push this week. The House Education Committee will vote on House Bill 704 on Wednesday, July 1 in the morning.

Please contact your committee members and talk with them about voting for HB 704.

With a little more effort, we will be successful in reforming the special education funding and accountability system in Pennsylvania.  Wednesday next week is the one and only vote needed for Representative Sturla’s House Bill 704 to be adopted in to law with the budget this year.

If the House Education Committee votes in favor of the bill, the leaders of the General Assembly will start to negotiate about including the bill in the final School Code Bill and Budget for 2009-10.

In addition, Senator Dinniman and 13 co-sponsors recently introduced Senate Bill 940, which is almost identical to House Bill 704.  No action is expected on S.B. 940; the House Bill will take the lead.

The House Education Committee members are listed below.  Click on the links to find the contact information for each member.

FIRST ACTION NEEDED (Please read this now and take action before Wednesday, July 1!)

• The House Education Committee will vote on House Bill 704 on Wednesday, July 1.

• The bill has a total of 65 co-sponsors, including 13 members of the House Education Committee.

• We need all of the Democrats and some Republicans on the Education Committee to vote for the bill, to ensure passage on Wednesday.

• Please contact the Committee members listed below – especially the ones from your area – and ask them to vote for House Bill 704 next Wednesday.

• Contact the members by phone (leave a detailed message), by e-mail, by letter, or schedule a meeting in their Harrisburg or district office.

• Click on the names below to immediately see their web pages and full contact information.

SECOND ACTION NEEDED (Please read this now and take action this week!)

• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper (especially the papers in the communities represented by the Committee members listed below).

• Explain why House Bill 704 should be adopted and why this is an important issue.

Talking Points

1. Please co-sponsor House Bill 704 and vote for the bill in the Education Committee on Wednesday, July 1.

2. I am asking you to support reform of the state funding and accountability system for special education.

3. The current funding system is broken, is unfair, and does not provide enough resources for special education in the right places.  It sets the number of students eligible for state funding for special education at 16% regardless of whether the district has fewer or more students receiving special education.  It also does not focus the funding on strategies that have a track record for improving student performance.

4. The school districts you represent need additional resources and support from the state.

5. I am your constituent and I have personal experience with how this broken system hurts children with disabilities and all students.

Thank you for taking quick action on this important issue.  We are truly making great progress.

---

HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Majority (Democrats)

Roebuck, James R., Jr. , Chairman – LEAD SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 783-1000  Philadelphia County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $6,277,752

Smith, Ken , Secretary – SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 783-1359  Lackawanna County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $4,495,242

Curry, Lawrence H., Subcommittee Chairman on Higher Education – SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 783-1079  Montgomery County (Part);  Philadelphia County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $6,277,752

McIlvaine Smith, Barbara, Subcommittee Chairman on Special Education
– LEAD SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 705-1922  Chester County (Part)

Yudichak, John T., Subcommittee Chairman on Basic Education – SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 787-1751  Luzerne County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $10,758,605

Carroll, Mike – SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 787-3589  Luzerne County (Part); Monroe County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $5,100,606

Conklin, H. Scott
(717) 787-9473Centre County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $1,489,521

Grucela, Richard T. – SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 705-1878  Northampton County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $1,593,149

Harkins, Patrick J. – SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 787-7406  Erie County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $6,082,031

Longietti, Mark
(717) 772-4035  Mercer County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $2,074,633

O’Brien, Michael H. – SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 783-8098  Philadelphia County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $6,277,752

Pallone, John E.
(717) 783-1819  Armstrong County (Part); Westmoreland County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $6,192,384

Wagner, Chelsa – SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 783-1582  Allegheny County (Part) Allegheny County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $575,924

Wheatley, Jake
(717) 783-3783  Allegheny County (Part)

Youngblood, Rosita C. – SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 787-7727  Philadelphia County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $6,277,752

Minority (Republicans)

Clymer, Paul I. , Chairman
(717) 783-3154  Bucks County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $702,782

Tallman, Will , Secretary
(717) 783-8875  Adams County (Part); York County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $1,867,992

O’Neill, Bernie, Subcommittee Chairman on Basic Education
(717) 705-7170  Bucks County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $26,090

Quigley, Thomas J., Subcommittee Chairman on Higher Education
(717) 772-9963  Montgomery County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $938,735

Rapp, Kathy L., Subcommittee Chairman on Special Education
(717) 787-1367  Forest County, Mckean County (Part), Warren County
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $5,717,958

Fleck, Mike
(717) 787-3335  Blair County (Part), Huntingdon County (Part), Mifflin County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $5,129,891

Metcalfe, Daryl D.
(717) 783-1707  Butler County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $1,871,514

Milne, Duane – SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 787-8579  Chester County (Part)

Murt, Thomas P. – SPONSOR OF HB704
(717) 787-6886  Montgomery County (Part); Philadelphia County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $6,290,120

Reese, Mike
(717) 783-9311 Fayette County (Part); Westmoreland County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $4,431,193

Rock, Todd
(717) 783-5218  Franklin County (Part)
All Districts Total Gap in State Special Ed Funding = $1,972,195

HB 704 , House Education Committee , Rep. Sturla , SB 940

Action Items No Comments June 25th, 2009