Please take a minute right away to click on the bill numbers below and see whether your Representative and Senator have signed on as cosponsors.
If you do not see their names, give a quick call to their Harrisburg office [...]]]> The special education reform bills have been introduced and are now on their way.

Please take a minute right away to click on the bill numbers below and see whether your Representative and Senator have signed on as cosponsors.
If you do not see their names, give a quick call to their Harrisburg office and ask them to immediately cosponsor this legislation.

If your representative and senator are already listed as cosponsors, call them to say a big “Thank you!”

The new bill numbers are House Bill 704 (yes, the same number as last year) and Senate Bill 1115.

Both bills are identical. Both are the same as the major reform legislation helping students with disabilities that we all worked so hard on last year. As you know, in 2010 House Bill 704 was passed by the House with bi-partisan support and came close to getting a vote in the Senate. We just ran out of time and had to start over in the 2011-12 session.

The newly re-introduced House and Senate bills fix the distribution and accountability of state funding for special education, aimed at improving opportunities to learn for children with disabilities.

You can find the Harrisburg phone number for your senator and representative here — http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/#address. Call their Harrisburg offices in the Capitol.

Talking points are enclosed below:

TALKING POINTS for calling the Harrisburg office of your own state senator and representative

· Please immediately add your name as a cosponsor for the special education reform bill, House Bill 704 or Senate Bill 1115. These bills have just been introduced.

· The lead sponsors are Representatives O’Neill and Sturla and Senators Browne and Dinniman.

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

· This legislation was approved 173-25 by the full House of Representatives in 2010, and is now being re-introduced. The bill does not call for any new funding in 2011-12.

· 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 school 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.

· The school districts you represent need support for special education, and must be held accountable for results. The new bills address these issues.

· I have personal experience with how this broken system hurts children with disabilities and all students. (Describe your experience.)

· Thank you for supporting this important issue and signing on as a cosponsor of HB 704 and SB 1115.

· I will call back in a day or two to follow up.

WHO
All students, parents, advocates, and concerned citizens from ALL parts of Pennsylvania. (Especially, but not only folks in Chester and Delaware Counties.)

WHEN
Right now. [...]]]> WHAT
Contact state Senator Dominic Pileggi, Majority Leader, and ask him to allow a vote on House Bill 704 for special education funding and accountability reforms.

WHO
All students, parents, advocates, and concerned citizens from ALL parts of Pennsylvania. (Especially, but not only folks in Chester and Delaware Counties.)

WHEN
Right now. The official legislative session will end in a couple of weeks, so we could run out of time for this year if things are delayed.

HOW
Call Senator Pileggi’s Harrisburg office at (717) 787-4712 and leave a detailed message. Also, send him a polite and personal e-mail to dpileggi@pasen.gov.

WHY
On September 21 the Senate Education Committee held a hearing about HB 704. The Committee indicated that they will only vote for HB 704 if Senator Pileggi, as the Senate Majority Leader, first gives his approval for a vote both in Committee and on the Senate floor. We have met with most senators and know that we can win these votes if Senator Pileggi allows them to happen during the next couple of weeks.

A Summary of HB 704 is linked in the right margin. Watch our video from the 21st and hear what supporters are saying.

TALKING POINTS

These talking points will work for Senator Pileggi (contact him first even if you live outside Chester or Delaware Counties) or any other state senator.

• Please support House Bill 704 in the Senate Education Committee and on the Senate floor. HB 704 deserves your support and a vote before the end of the year.
• I am asking you to support reform of the state funding and accountability system for special education.
• HB 704 has 66 bipartisan cosponsors. It was approved 173-25 by the full House of Representatives in June.
• 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.
• The school districts you represent need additional resources and support from the state, and must be held accountable for results.
• I have personal experience with how this broken system hurts children with disabilities and all students. (Describe your experience.)
• Thank you for supporting this important issue and voting for HB 704.

10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 21 in Room 8, East Wing, Capitol Building in Harrisburg.

Representative Sturla (our lead sponsor) will testify and present the bill to the Committee for consideration.

The East Wing [...]]]> The Senate Education Committee will meet and discuss our legislation for special education funding and accountability reforms, HB 704, at –

10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 21 in Room 8, East Wing, Capitol Building in Harrisburg.

Representative Sturla (our lead sponsor) will testify and present the bill to the Committee for consideration.

The East Wing is directly behind the main Capitol building, down an escalator and to the right.

PLEASE ATTEND THIS HEARING. BRING OTHERS WITH YOU. This is our one big chance in the Senate before the end of the year.

Consider scheduling a meeting or two with state senators from your area, after the hearing on Tuesday. Staff for your senator(s) are likely to be available, even on short notice.

The Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 21, 2010 on House Bill 704. The hearing will take place in Room 8, East Wing, Capitol Building. We’re encouraging people to attend and show their support.

House Bill 704 is [...]]]> ATTENTION: Disability Advocates, Parents, and Concerned Citizens

The Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 21, 2010 on House Bill 704. The hearing will take place in Room 8, East Wing, Capitol Building. We’re encouraging people to attend and show their support.

House Bill 704 is our legislation for special education funding and accountability reforms. The bill makes important improvements to benefit the education of children with disabilities.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved HB 704 in June by an overwhelming vote of 173 to 25.  The bill is now in the Senate. At the hearing, Representative Sturla (our lead sponsor) will testify and present the bill to the Committee for consideration.  It’s important we show our strength at this hearing.

For more information about attending the hearing contact the Education Law Center’s Baruch Kintisch or Sandy Zelno.

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 [...]]]> 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.

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 [...]]]> 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 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 [...]]]> 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.