Reform Special Education Funding
HB 704, the bill on special education funding and accountability reforms, was scheduled for a vote in the whole State House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 26. The vote has been rescheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday, June 8 or 9.
The biggest reason for the delay is that there is disagreement within both political [...]
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 [...]
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
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 [...]
Jeff Hawkes’ piece in today’s Lancaster Intelligencer Journal made a great case for fixing PA’s broken special education funding system.
Here’s the link:
Special education funding formula inequity in action
Here’s an excerpt:
Pennsylvania for too long has stacked the deck against taxpayers in Columbia, Lancaster [...]
There are a few key improvements to HB 704.
Here’s the formal Summary:
Current Contents of House Bill 704 (65 co-sponsors) & Senate Bill 940 (15 co-sponsors)
(as introduced, as adopted 22-3 and amended in the House Education Committee, and reflecting a negotiated agreement between Governor Rendell and the bill sponsors)
SUMMARY [...]
State funding for special education was not cut for 2009-10.
Every school district will receive the same state funding for special education as in 2008-09. See a detailed spreadsheet here. This is a major victory, as nearly all other education line items were cut.
In addition, every school [...]
In 2008, Pennsylvania adopted a landmark funding formula for basic education, putting more dollars into the neediest schools and implementing rigorous accountability measures for school districts. However, special education students have been left out of the equation.
A coalition of groups is now sending the message that it’s time for the General Assembly to approach [...]
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, [...]
Here is the overall update about what happened last week:
On Wednesday, July 1, the House Education Committee voted to approve House Bill 704, reforming the special education funding and accountability system in Pennsylvania.
The vote — with bipartisan support — was 22 to 3 in favor of the bill. Click [...]
PAGES
SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING
Q&A on Special Education Funding Reform
Our bills from 2010: HB 704
SB 940Read 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
In Philadelphia:
Baruch Kintisch
215-238-6970
bkintisch@elc-pa.org
In Pittsburgh:
Sandra Zelno
412-255-6414
szelno@elc-pa.orgDisability Rights Network of PA
Sallie Lynagh
1-800-390-1279
slynagh@drnpa.orgThe Arc of Pennsylvania
Pam Klipa
717-234-2621
pklipa@thearcpa.orgGood Schools Pennsylvania
Janis Risch
215-332-2700
janis@goodschoolspa.orgCATEGORIES
- Action Items (22)
- Media (19)
- News (35)
- Organizing (6)
TAGS
Above Average Jane charters coalition Education Law Center funding Harrisburg HB 11 HB704 HB 704 hearing hearings House House Education Committee Lancaster Lancaster County Lebanon Lehigh Valley map Media notebook Organizing parent Pennsylvania philadelphia Pittsburgh Pocono Record Pottstown reform Rep. McCall Rep. McIlvaine-Smith Rep. O'Neill Rep. Roebuck Rep. Smith Rep. Sturla SB 940 SB 1115 Sen. Browne Sen. Dinniman Senate senate education committee special ed special education special education funding York Zahorchak
