Representatives Roebuck and McIlvaine Smith were among the 22 Education Committee members [...]]]> State Reps. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster; Barbara McIlvaine Smith, D-Chester; James Roebuck, D-Philadelphia; and  Keith McCall (D-Carbon) were among the 65 co-sponsors of legislation approved today making the state’s special education funding formula more equitable and strengthening accountability for effective investment of new funding.

Representatives Roebuck and McIlvaine Smith were among the 22 Education Committee members approving the legislation. House Bill 704 aims to close the state’s share of the $380 million adequacy gap over a period of six years and to base state funding to school districts on a district’s five-year average of actual students enrolled in special education.

“I am proud to see the House Education Committee today approve House Bill 704,” Rep. Sturla said. “We are one step closer to providing comprehensive accountability and equitable funding for all special education students.”

Please make plans to attend a legislative hearing on our special education funding reform bill.  Send out the word to your entire network.  We need huge attendance!  This is the turning point we have been waiting for.

The hearing [...]]]> UPDATE: Hearing date changed. Wednesday, May 6 is the new date.

Please make plans to attend a legislative hearing on our special education funding reform bill.  Send out the word to your entire network.  We need huge attendance!  This is the turning point we have been waiting for.

The hearing is being held by the House Education Committee.  It will take place in Harrisburg at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 in Room 50 (ground floor) of the Irvis Office Building (attached to the rear east corner of the Capitol).

The bill is sponsored by Representatives Sturla, McCall, McIlvaine-Smith, Roebuck, and more than 50 others.  It will be officially introduced on April 29.  PLEASE KEEP UP YOUR CALLS AND E-MAILS TO REPRESENTATIVES, ASKING THEM TO CO-SPONSOR THE BILL.  We need more co-sponsors to ensure passage of the bill.

Witnesses at the May 6 hearing will include the Education Law Center, the Disability Rights Network of PA, the Arc of PA, and others.

We will also hold a rally and an action strategy meeting immediately following the Committee hearing on May 6 in Harrisburg.  Please plan on staying for these events.  Details to follow soon.