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 – The updated provisions of the legislation for state reform of the special education funding and accountability systems make the following
improvements:

• Increase the accuracy of the special education formula by using three weights;
• Establish an open oversight/regulatory process to set the final formula weights;
• Hold spending at 2008-09 levels for the next year;
• Delay the 6-year phase in to adequate funding levels, set to start in 2011-12;
• Streamline and strengthen school district accountability, applied when new funding occurs in 2011; and
• Strengthen the Contingency Fund and make it more accountable and transparent.

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