A clear and concise York Dispatch editorial about House Bill 704 and the need for special education funding and accountability reform:

Flat rate funding not fair

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.”

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.

I have a child who has special needs.  She was helped by some awesome and patient teachers.  The problem now is that many of these teachers are BURNT out.  They need you to pass this bill.  By passing this bill, all special needs students will get the help that they need.  Also all school districts will receive equitable money.  Please sign this bill to help the future of not only our special needs students but also the future of Pennsylvania.

--Teresa DePaul, 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.

Hurry up and wait.  An unfortunate but sometimes necessary part of human existence, supermarket lines, and political reality in Harrisburg.

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.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE ASAP. We need your help to get calls, e-mails, or letters to every state representative.  Click here for talking points and actions that you can take to help the House vote for and pass HB 704 on June 8 or 9.

Click here to see a more detailed explanation of the two-week delay and a list of amendments intended by some representatives for HB 704.  If your state representative is sponsoring one of these amendments, you may want to call him or her to express your concerns – HB 704 deserves their support and a vote without amendments.

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

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.

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.