Reform Special Education Funding
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The York Dispatch ran an op-ed from the Education Law Center today, explaining the hold harmless provision of House Bill 704:
PA_students_with_disabilities_deserve_better
OP-ED: Pa. students with disabilities deserve better
Updated: 07/15/2010 01:12:15 PM EDT
There’s been a lot written recently about a piece of legislation that would create new state laws for special education funding [...]
The York Dispatch ran an op-ed from the Education Law Center today, explaining the hold harmless provision of House Bill 704:
PA_students_with_disabilities_deserve_better
OP-ED: Pa. students with disabilities deserve better
Updated: 07/15/2010 01:12:15 PM EDT
There’s been a lot written recently about a piece of legislation that would create new state laws for special education funding and accountability.
Let’s be clear: The reforms in House Bill 704 are needed because special education was left out when the General Assembly enacted basic education reforms in 2008. Students with disabilities should not be left out of these important reforms and deserve better. These children have waited long enough for the state to pay attention to their needs. The Senate should act before the end of the year to consider and approve HB 704.
Under HB 704, state funding for special education will be distributed based on the actual needs of students and schools. Schools will be held accountable for effectively investing these resources, without creating excessive bureaucracy or paperwork requirements. HB 704 also revises the reforms made for basic education to better match the needs of the special education system and to reflect the lessons learned since 2008. These are huge steps for improving educational outcomes for students with disabilities.
Continue reading »
A good column on HB 704 from the Reading Eagle‘s David Mekeel:
David Mekeel: Changes to special ed-funding needed
For two decades, public school districts have received state funding for special education the same way.
State Rep. P. Michael Sturla hopes to change that.
The Lancaster County Democrat has authored a bill that would fundamentally [...]
A good column on HB 704 from the Reading Eagle‘s David Mekeel:
David Mekeel: Changes to special ed-funding needed
For two decades, public school districts have received state funding for special education the same way.
State Rep. P. Michael Sturla hopes to change that.
The Lancaster County Democrat has authored a bill that would fundamentally change special-education funding – eventually.
“The system has basically been flawed since it was changed 20 years ago,” Sturla said. “It makes the incorrect assumption that 16 percent of all students across the board have special needs.”
Tagged with: HB 704 • Lancaster County • Rep. Sturla • special education • special education funding
The York Dispatch’s Education Reporter Andrew Shaw published a story Monday on the House passage of HB 704:
Special_ed_funding_change_passes_in_Pa._House
Read the full story:
Special ed funding change passes in Pa. House
ANDREW SHAW | The York Dispatch
Updated:06/28/2010 01:04:41 PM EDT
Special education funding reform is now before the state Senate after a bill [...]
The York Dispatch’s Education Reporter Andrew Shaw published a story Monday on the House passage of HB 704:
Special_ed_funding_change_passes_in_Pa._House
Read the full story:
Special ed funding change passes in Pa. House
ANDREW SHAW | The York Dispatch
Updated:06/28/2010 01:04:41 PM EDT
Special education funding reform is now before the state Senate after a bill that would greatly change the funding formula was passed by the House.
The House last week overwhelmingly approved a bill, 173-25, that would move Pennsylvania away from a flat funding method.
State Rep. Will Tallman, R-Reading Township, was the lone York County dissenter.
Tallman said he supports increased special education funding but believes the state is adding too much additional oversight.
School districts have been getting special education funding based on the assumption each district has 16 percent of its total enrollment in special education. That formula has been in place since 1991, according to state Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, who developed the bill.
Under the proposed legislation, school districts would receive funding based on the number of special-education students they have, as well as on factors such as district poverty level.
Special education funding reform is “long overdue,” says the Beaver County Times in their editorial from Sunday, June 27, 2010:
It’s about time
The state House has taken a first step toward revamping the funding formula for special education.
While that is a positive step forward, getting to this point should not have been so [...]
Special education funding reform is “long overdue,” says the Beaver County Times in their editorial from Sunday, June 27, 2010:
It’s about time
The state House has taken a first step toward revamping the funding formula for special education.
While that is a positive step forward, getting to this point should not have been so hard or taken so long. As important as this legislation is, it shows how woefully ineffective the General Assembly can be, even in righting a mistake that’s been apparent for almost two decades.
The current funding formula has been around since 1991, and it has a serious flaw – it has no basis in reality. It assumes that 16 percent of the students in every district in the commonwealth are special-need children and bases reimbursement on that percentage. If a district has more than 16 percent, it’s too bad. Local taxpayers have to pick up the added tab.
Continue reading »
Bill alters special-ed funding
Sunday, June 27, 2010
By BRIAN WALLACE, Lancaster Intelligencer Journal Staff Writer
The state House has approved a new funding formula for special-education services, but the bill doesn’t include the mandated funding increases hoped for by some school officials and advocates for the disabled.
In fact, the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. [...]
Bill alters special-ed funding
Sunday, June 27, 2010
By BRIAN WALLACE, Lancaster Intelligencer Journal Staff Writer
The state House has approved a new funding formula for special-education services, but the bill doesn’t include the mandated funding increases hoped for by some school officials and advocates for the disabled.
In fact, the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Mike Sturla of Lancaster, said state special-ed subsidies are likely to be frozen at 2008-09 levels for the next two years.
What House Bill 704 would do is assure that whatever money is available for special-education services each year goes to the school districts that need it most, Sturla said.
Continue reading »
Tagged with: HB 704 • Lancaster • Media • Rep. Sturla • special education • special education funding
HB 704 has gotten some press following its approval by the House. Check back for more!
Administrators hope bill will bring fairness to special education
By Amy Crawford
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, June 24, 2010
A bill that would change the way state special education funding is distributed to school districts was approved by the [...]
HB 704 has gotten some press following its approval by the House. Check back for more!
Administrators hope bill will bring fairness to special education
By Amy Crawford
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, June 24, 2010
A bill that would change the way state special education funding is distributed to school districts was approved by the House of Representatives yesterday, giving hope to administrators who say the system shortchanges districts with the most special needs students.
“This is a good day,” said Ed Maritz, a Sto-Rox school director who has advocated for special education funding reform for more than a decade. “It’s about time that we got some fairness in special education.”
Currently, Pennsylvania calculates subsidies for special education by assuming that 16 percent of students in each district have disabilities. The average is about 15.5 percent, but some districts have much higher numbers.
In Sto-Rox, for example, more than a quarter of students have disabilities. With a budget of about $24 million, the district spends about $3.5 million on special education, only $1 million of which comes from the state.
Continue reading »
An excellent Op-Ed from Greg Knox of the Arc appeared in Sunday’s York Daily Record:
Education bill needed
GREG KNOX
Elected officials in Harrisburg are demonstrating that they certainly can act as responsible public servants. In a time of political turmoil, that’s a very good sign.
What is bringing out the best in our [...]
An excellent Op-Ed from Greg Knox of the Arc appeared in Sunday’s York Daily Record:
Education bill needed
GREG KNOX
Elected officials in Harrisburg are demonstrating that they certainly can act as responsible public servants. In a time of political turmoil, that’s a very good sign.
What is bringing out the best in our leaders in the state Capitol? A bill addressing the educational needs of students with disabilities — House Bill 704.
This bill shouldn’t have a chance, given the difficulties of state government in these days. But the bill is only days away from being approved by the House of Representatives and moving on to prompt consideration in the Senate.
In a time when partisan tensions are common, HB 704 has 66 cosponsors from both parties and was approved by a bipartisan vote of 22 to 3 in the House Education Committee. Continue reading »
A clear and concise York Dispatch editorial about House Bill 704 and the need for special education funding and accountability reform:
EDITORIAL The York Dispatch
Updated: 06/10/2010 10:46:06 AM EDT
Basic education funding is shaping up to be a major sticking point in [...]
A clear and concise York Dispatch editorial about House Bill 704 and the need for special education funding and accountability reform:
EDITORIAL The York Dispatch
Updated: 06/10/2010 10:46:06 AM EDT
Basic education funding is shaping up to be a major sticking point in Pennsylvania’s ongoing budget process.
Facing a potential $2 billion deficit, just about every state program is on the chopping block — except education.
This is Gov. Ed Rendell’s top priority, and he wants to increase funding by $354 million, saying “there’s nothing more important to the commonwealth’s future.”
Continue reading »
The Harrisburg Patriot-News ran our new Op-Ed on Tuesday, just as hearings in the Capitol began for the proposed 2010-2011 education budget: Status_quo_won’t_work_on_PA_special_ed_funding.
Here’s the full text:
Status quo won’t work on Pennsylvania special ed funding
Children with disabilities often experience tremendous challenges when they reach adulthood. National research shows that about 70 percent [...]
The Harrisburg Patriot-News ran our new Op-Ed on Tuesday, just as hearings in the Capitol began for the proposed 2010-2011 education budget: Status_quo_won’t_work_on_PA_special_ed_funding.
Here’s the full text:
Status quo won’t work on Pennsylvania special ed funding
Children with disabilities often experience tremendous challenges when they reach adulthood. National research shows that about 70 percent of all adults with disabilities are unemployed.
That often translates to a greater reliance on public benefits and significant isolation from the world of work, taxes, elections, shopping malls and everything else that constitutes full participation in Pennsylvania community life.
Ensuring a quality education for all children in all public schools in Pennsylvania is the first step in preventing this unfortunate outcome.
Our Op-Ed on the pending special education funding and accountability legislation was published in a trio of papers during the past few days.
Centre Daily Times: Support_funding_to_educate_children_with_disabilities
Pocono Record: Disabled_kids_face_a_school_funding_imbalance
York Daily Record: All_kids_count: Fairly_fund_special_education
Our Op-Ed on the pending special education funding and accountability legislation was published in a trio of papers during the past few days.
Centre Daily Times: Support_funding_to_educate_children_with_disabilities
Pocono Record: Disabled_kids_face_a_school_funding_imbalance
York Daily Record: All_kids_count: Fairly_fund_special_education
Tagged with: Centre Daily Times • HB 704 • Pocono Record • SB 940 • special education funding • York Daily Record
VOICES OF SUPPORT
2010 video from Senate hearing on special education reform legislation
PAGES
SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING
Q&A on Special Education Funding Reform
The Bill: HB 2
Read the full report: Costing-out Special Education Funding
Read the executive summary: Costing-out Study: Executive Summary
View statewide data report:
Pa. Data on Special EducationView a presentation on:HB 704
DRAFT: State Survey on Special Education Funding Formulas
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
There are approximately 40 organizations supporting special education funding reforms, including:
The full list of supporting organizations is on the About page.
CONTACTS
Education Law Center
Brett Schaeffer
bschaeffer@elc-pa.orgThe Arc of Pennsylvania
Pam Klipa
pklipa@thearcpa.orgDisability Rights Network of PA
Sallie Lynagh
slynagh@drnpa.orgCATEGORIES
- Action Items (31)
- Media (19)
- News (50)
- Organizing (7)
TAGS
Above Average Jane charters coalition Education Law Center funding Harrisburg HB 2 HB2 HB 11 HB 704 HB704 hearing hearings House House Education Committee Lancaster Lancaster County map Media notebook Organizing parent Pennsylvania philadelphia Pittsburgh Pocono Record Pottstown reform Rep. McIlvaine-Smith Rep. O'Neill Rep. Roebuck Rep. Sturla SB 940 SB 1115 Sen. Browne Sen. Dinniman Senate senate education committee special ed special educaiton funding special education special education funding special education funding reform York Zahorchak
