What: Briefing and Planning Sessions on State Reform for Special Education Funding and Accountability

When: Wednesday, August 19 (Pittsburgh);  Thursday, August 20 (Southeast PA); Wednesday, September 2 (Lancaster).
DETAILS BELOW.

The Arc of PA, the Disability Rights Network of PA, the Education Law Center, and Good Schools PA are hosting three regional special education funding reform briefings and planning meetings.  Please mark the dates on your calendar and plan to be part of these interactive sessions.

UPDATE.  The news is very good, thanks to your hard work and dedication.  HB 704 is Representative Sturla’s bill — “our” bill — for special education funding and accountability reforms.  The bill has made it all of the way into the annual School Code Bill (HB 11) that is usually adopted with the state budget.  The House Education Committee has now voted twice to support HB 704.  Governor Rendell also recently decided to support HB 704.  If the legislative leaders can wrap up their negotiations for the budget, HB 11 (including HB 704) should be adopted in the next few weeks.

We hope you will join us to discuss these developments and our crucial next steps on August 19, August 20, and September 2.

The agenda will be the same at all three locations across the state.  It is as follows:

(1)     Looking back and evaluating our efforts in 2008-09;
(2)     Planning our next steps for advocacy in 2009-10;
(3)     Discussing other related issues, such as inclusion and over-identification; and
(4)     Figuring out how to strengthen our advocacy work and our coalition.

Please share this email with other advocates and organizations who may like to attend and participate in the meeting.

It would be very helpful if you could RSVP your attendance to SZelno@elc-pa.org (Pittsburgh); kwoii@aol.com (SE PA); and ellenrbb@dejazzd.com (Lancaster).

We look forward to seeing you.
As always, call or email with any questions. Thank you in advance.