BACKGROUND
HB 704 and SB 940 will fix the state funding and accountability systems for special education.  The state formula has completely broken down.  Many school districts do not receive a fair share of state funding and are not held fully accountable for effectively investing special education resources.

This hurts children with disabilities and all students.

 More than 80 legislators have now cosponsored our bills.  HB 704 was approved by large bipartisan majorities of the House Education Committee, with two favorable votes of 22-3 and 23-2.  HB 704 was placed into the annual School Code Bill for 2009, HB 11, but the budget mess held up further consideration.

During the last few months, many of the groups endorsing the reforms held successful meetings with legislators.  Most legislators express support for the bills, with very few concerns.  The only real hurdle is the fear by some legislators of making commitments in another deficit year for increased future spending.  Legislators have been reassured when we tell them that HB 704 and SB 940 hold special education spending at stable levels without an increase until 2011-12 (one budget year from now), and will require manageable increases in the following years to reach adequate levels (about $33 million increase per year for six years).

CURRENT STATUS
Representative Sturla, our lead sponsor in the House, is working to bring HB 704 to a vote on the House floor in February or March.
Senator Dinniman, our lead sponsor in the Senate, will ensure that the legislation receives a hearing in the Senate Education Committee in March.

 Governor Rendell has agreed to support HB 704 and SB 940, but is not expected to take the lead.

 Thus, legislation has a good chance for final passage into law by June.  Your help and action are needed to make this happen.

ACTIONS NEEDED
(1) Tell your state representative and senator to support and vote for HB 704 and SB 940.  Find your legislators by clicking here.
(2) Reach out to other groups and ask them to join our list of endorsers.  We currently have 37 endorsing groups, and would like to get over 50 total.
Potential new endorsers may include disability groups, education groups, civil rights groups, and well known advocates.  Individual parents and students are always welcome to help our efforts, but are not really able to “endorse” our work in the way we seek.  Tell Baruch which other groups are interested in endorsing our work.
(3) Include on your own Web site homepage and in your newsletters a link to this Web site.  This will help others to see what is happening and support our efforts.
(4) Invite one of our speakers to talk to the staff and members of your organization about our campaign.  Pam Klipa from the Arc of PA, Janis Risch from Good Schools PA, Baruch Kintisch and Sandy Zelno from Education Law Center, and others are available to participate – by phone or in person – in a meeting of your staff or membership.