Our bill for special education funding and accountability reform (House Bill 704) passed the whole State House of Representatives on June 23, 2010 by a vote of 173 to 25.

Click here to see how your representative voted.

Together, we made this happen when everyone else said it couldn’t.  Let’s keep working and see if we can get the bill passed into law with the state budget by mid-July.

Stay tuned for further action steps.

For now, please consider the following immediate actions:

(1)  Call or e-mail your state representatives and thank them for voting for HB 704.  They are currently in their Harrisburg offices.  Find their contact information here.

(2)  If you have not signed our online petition, this would be a good time to do so.

(3)  Consider adding your comments about HB 704 on our online discussion page.

Your tireless efforts are most appreciated.

House Bill 704 received unanimous support on Tuesday, June 22 from the State House of Representatives – 199 to 0.  Click here to see the vote totals.

This was not the final passage of the bill, but was something called “second consideration.”  However, Tuesday’s vote was the biggest hurdle.  And you did it!

The vote on final passage will be after 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Watch here.  The bill is expected to be overwhelmingly approved on final passage, although some representatives may vote against it.

Thank you for all of your wonderful efforts in support of special education funding and accountability reform.  Together, we all played a big role in making this happen.  Every phone call and e-mail was heard, and added up to a powerful voice on behalf of children with disabilities.

There are a few next steps before HB 704 is enacted into law.  We want the bill to be adopted by the full General Assembly along with the budget this year, which could take place by the middle of July.

We will let you know about those next steps over the next few days.

For now, please consider the following immediate actions:

(1)  Call or e-mail your state representatives and thank them for voting for HB 704.  They are currently in their Harrisburg offices.  Find their contact information here.

(2)  If you have not signed our online petition, this would be a good time to do so.

(3)  Consider adding your comments about HB 704 on my online discussion page.

Thank you for proving that collaborative action can make positive things happen.  Let’s keep up our efforts until HB 704 is signed into law.

THE TOP PRIORITY REMAINS MAKING CALLS TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE.  SEE BELOW.

The whole State House of Representatives continues to move closer to a vote on House Bill 704. This is our legislation for reform of the state systems for special education funding and accountability.

Prior to this historic vote, a few extra days are needed for the bill sponsors to negotiate amendments with some other House members.

We have worked to develop and support HB 704 for nearly two years. This is a monumental step for students with disabilities and their schools.

Thank you for helping our online petition to gain more than 1,400 signatures. Forward this alert to others to add more signatures and comments to the petition.

Please take the following actions ASAP:

Contact Your State Representative

• Locate your state representative and contact information here — http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm.
• Call his or her Harrisburg office.
• Leave a phone message using the following talking points.
• Ask the state representative to call you back.
• Also send an e-mail using and personalizing the talking points. Call first.
• Do not call state senators or other officials.

Talking Points

1. Please vote for House Bill 704 when it comes to the House floor.  HB 704 deserves your support and a vote without amendments.
2. I am asking you to support reform of the state funding and accountability system for special education.
3. HB 704 has 66 bipartisan cosponsors. It was approved 22-3 by the House Education Committee.
4. 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.
5. The school districts you represent need additional resources and support from the state.
6. I am your constituent and I have personal experience with how this broken system hurts children with disabilities and all students. (Describe your experience.)
7. Thank you for supporting this important issue and voting for HB 704 this week.

Extra Help and Follow Up

For extra help, call Baruch Kintisch (215-238-6970 x 320) or Sandy Zelno (412-255-6414).

Send us an e-mail and let us know how your phone calls, e-mails, and letters turn out.

Additional Resources:

Summary of HB 704 (two-page summary)

Q&A on Special Education Funding Reform (4-page detailed information)

Thank you for getting involved and making good things happen for children with disabilities and all children.

Show your support. Sign our petition to help special education in Pennsylvania.

I welcome discussion with legislators regarding the need for special ed funding reform in PA. I was a Director of Special Education in a large western PA school district for 13 years. I have experience trying to balance the immediate mandated needs of educating special needs children and the impact of my proposed budgets on the entire District budget. Often, the increase in funding was minimal and I was forced to prioritize the needs of the students…often cutting from one or more categories in my budget. School boards and school administrators have a difficult responsibility to implement mandated changes, federal laws and provide for the many needs of students without the appropriate financial support from the state and federal levels. Please take immediate action to support HB 704.

– Joanne C. Meredith, educator

Show your support.  Sign our petition to help special education in Pennsylvania.

Meeting the unique needs of students with special needs is critical not only for them but also for other students in our public schools.  As a grandmother of three — one of whom ahs developmental disabilities, one of whom is gifted but with some unique issues, and one who functions well in a regular classroom — I recognize the importance of this legislation.
– Barbara Smith, grandparent

Show your support.  Sign our petition to help special education in Pennsylvania.

Please support the bill. I have a daughter with Special Needs in the public school system in Pennsylvania.

– Robert J. Rossi, parent

Show your support.  Sign our petition to help special education in Pennsylvania.

My son has autism and he is not doing well in school, not because he is not capable, but because he does not have the resources needed for him to be successful.  With enough money, the resources can be secured so my son can get access to his education so he can compete in this society and not be a burden on the social security system.

– Cecelia Thompson, parent

Show your support.  Sign our petition to help special education in Pennsylvania.

JUNE 1 UPDATE
More than ever, we need you and your friends to contact your state representatives this week and tell them to vote for House Bill 704.  With your help, we can win this vote and have some good news for a change!  See the details below, including action steps and talking points.

Please enter your name on our online petition to support House Bill 704.  It takes two minutes.  You can even write a short comment for others to see.  Everyone can place their name on the petition, including students, parents, educators, advocates, and others.  FORWARD THIS ASAP TO YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES SO THAT WE CAN GENERATE LOTS OF SIGNATURES.

Let us know what else we can do to help.

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.