Reform Special Education Funding
Currently viewing the tag: "Rep. Sturla"
It’s been a while since we had news to report about special education reforms in the PA General Assembly. Well, now we have some really good news.
And we all need to get busy!
The major reform legislation helping students with disabilities that we all worked so hard on last year is being [...]
It’s been a while since we had news to report about special education reforms in the PA General Assembly. Well, now we have some really good news.
And we all need to get busy!
The major reform legislation helping students with disabilities that we all worked so hard on last year is being re-introduced in the PA Senate and House.
In 2010, House Bill 704 was passed by the House with bi-partisan support and came close to getting a vote in the Senate. We just ran out of time.
The bill fixes the distribution and accountability of state funding for special education, aimed at improving opportunities to learn for children with disabilities.
The same bill will now be re-introduced in both the Senate and the House, in the same form as it passed the House in 2010. Click here for a detailed summary. Continue reading »
Tagged with: reform • Rep. O'Neill • Rep. Sturla • Sen. Browne • Sen. Dinniman • special education funding
The Senate Education Committee will meet and discuss our legislation for special education funding and accountability reforms, HB 704, at –
10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 21 in Room 8, East Wing, Capitol Building in Harrisburg.
Representative Sturla (our lead sponsor) will testify and present the bill to the Committee for consideration.
The East Wing [...]
The Senate Education Committee will meet and discuss our legislation for special education funding and accountability reforms, HB 704, at –
10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 21 in Room 8, East Wing, Capitol Building in Harrisburg.
Representative Sturla (our lead sponsor) will testify and present the bill to the Committee for consideration.
The East Wing is directly behind the main Capitol building, down an escalator and to the right.
PLEASE ATTEND THIS HEARING. BRING OTHERS WITH YOU. This is our one big chance in the Senate before the end of the year.
Consider scheduling a meeting or two with state senators from your area, after the hearing on Tuesday. Staff for your senator(s) are likely to be available, even on short notice.
Tagged with: HB 704 • Rep. Sturla • senate education committee • special education • special education funding
ATTENTION: Disability Advocates, Parents, and Concerned Citizens
The Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 21, 2010 on House Bill 704. The hearing will take place in Room 8, East Wing, Capitol Building. We’re encouraging people to attend and show their support.
House Bill 704 is [...]
ATTENTION: Disability Advocates, Parents, and Concerned Citizens
The Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 21, 2010 on House Bill 704. The hearing will take place in Room 8, East Wing, Capitol Building. We’re encouraging people to attend and show their support.
House Bill 704 is our legislation for special education funding and accountability reforms. The bill makes important improvements to benefit the education of children with disabilities.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved HB 704 in June by an overwhelming vote of 173 to 25. The bill is now in the Senate. At the hearing, Representative Sturla (our lead sponsor) will testify and present the bill to the Committee for consideration. It’s important we show our strength at this hearing.
For more information about attending the hearing contact the Education Law Center’s Baruch Kintisch or Sandy Zelno.
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
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 »
THE TOP PRIORITY REMAINS MAKING CALLS TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE. SEE BELOW.
The whole State House of Representatives continues to move closer to a vote on House Bill 704. This is our legislation for reform of the state systems for special education funding and accountability.
Prior to this historic vote, a few extra days [...]
THE TOP PRIORITY REMAINS MAKING CALLS TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE. SEE BELOW.
The whole State House of Representatives continues to move closer to a vote on House Bill 704. This is our legislation for reform of the state systems for special education funding and accountability.
Prior to this historic vote, a few extra days are needed for the bill sponsors to negotiate amendments with some other House members.
We have worked to develop and support HB 704 for nearly two years. This is a monumental step for students with disabilities and their schools.
Thank you for helping our online petition to gain more than 1,400 signatures. Forward this alert to others to add more signatures and comments to the petition.
Please take the following actions ASAP:
Contact Your State Representative
- Locate your state representative and contact information here — http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm.
- Call his or her Harrisburg office.
- Leave a phone message using the following talking points.
- Ask the state representative to call you back.
- Also send an e-mail using and personalizing the talking points. Call first.
- Do not call state senators or other officials.
Talking Points
- Please vote for House Bill 704 when it comes to the House floor. HB 704 deserves your support and a vote without amendments.
- I am asking you to support reform of the state funding and accountability system for special education.
- HB 704 has 66 bipartisan cosponsors. It was approved 22-3 by the House Education Committee.
- The current funding system is broken, is unfair, and does not provide enough resources for special education in the right places. It sets the number of students eligible for state funding for special education at 16% regardless of whether the district has fewer or more students receiving special education. It also does not focus the funding on strategies that have a track record for improving student performance.
- The school districts you represent need additional resources and support from the state.
- I am your constituent and I have personal experience with how this broken system hurts children with disabilities and all students. (Describe your experience.)
- Thank you for supporting this important issue and voting for HB 704 this week.
Extra Help and Follow Up
For extra help, call Baruch Kintisch (215-238-6970 x 320) or Sandy Zelno (412-255-6414).
Send us an e-mail and let us know how your phone calls, e-mails, and letters turn out.
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.
Show your support. Sign our petition to help special education in Pennsylvania.
Show your support. Sign our petition to help special education in Pennsylvania.
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
