Reform Special Education Funding
Currently viewing the tag: "special education funding"
We’re close.
The General Assembly has done its part to help fix the broken state system for funding special education. The state senate unanimously approved HB2 on Tuesday. It’s now up to the Governor.
We expect Gov. Corbett to sign HB2 into law in the coming days. This historic legislation will establish a commission on [...]
We’re close.
The General Assembly has done its part to help fix the broken state system for funding special education. The state senate unanimously approved HB2 on Tuesday. It’s now up to the Governor.
We expect Gov. Corbett to sign HB2 into law in the coming days. This historic legislation will establish a commission on special education funding and accountability to reform the out-dated system and implement an accurate funding formula based on student need.
More to come next week.
The House of Representatives yesterday unanimously approved House Bill 2, Printers No. 537!
The House version of the bill has now been sent over to the Senate for consideration. (Please note that there is also an identical Senate companion bill—Senate Bill 470, Printers No. 411.) We expect the Senate to take [...]
The House of Representatives yesterday unanimously approved House Bill 2, Printers No. 537!
The House version of the bill has now been sent over to the Senate for consideration. (Please note that there is also an identical Senate companion bill—Senate Bill 470, Printers No. 411.) We expect the Senate to take swift action on House Bill 2.
Congratulations to everyone involved for the tremendous work over the past four years with legislative visits, meetings, strategy sessions, letters, emails, and phone calls. We’ve gone through a lot of versions of this legislation together but—because of the hard work and relentless action from dedicated advocates—this bill may finally move and we will have a commission in place to figure out a fairer funding and accountability system for special education in Pennsylvania. This is truly a noteworthy accomplishment.
Tagged with: HB2 • Pennsylvania • special education • special education funding • special education funding reform
HB 2, the Special Education Funding and Accountability Bill, passed unanimously out of the House Education Committee on Feb. 11. There were favorable comments about the support of the advocacy community. Stay tuned for more news.
HB 2, the Special Education Funding and Accountability Bill, passed unanimously out of the House Education Committee on Feb. 11. There were favorable comments about the support of the advocacy community. Stay tuned for more news.
House Bill 2 Printers No. 537 was introduced this week by Rep. Bernie O’Neill and was referred to the House Education Committee for consideration.
This has been placed on the agenda for a committee vote on Monday, February 11, 2013, at 11:00 AM in Room 60 in the East Wing (near [...]
House Bill 2 Printers No. 537 was introduced this week by Rep. Bernie O’Neill and was referred to the House Education Committee for consideration.
This has been placed on the agenda for a committee vote on Monday, February 11, 2013, at 11:00 AM in Room 60 in the East Wing (near the cafeteria). It’s a public hearing so everyone is welcome to attend the hearing.
The bill is very similar to one of the final versions adopted last fall which unfortunately met its demise when it was amended with controversial amendments unrelated to special education.
Senator Pat Browne will be introducing a companion bill shortly in the Senate. The legislative champions for this bill have committed to moving this bill through the legislative process in a timely manner. Many organizations worked extremely hard and were disappointed in the process surrounding previous bills, but the primary bill sponsors want to work to accomplish this without any entanglements that are unrelated to our issues.
A brief analysis of the bill is attached. The bill basically upholds the mission and the core basic principles of the special education funding reform coalition and we are all hoping the General Assembly seizes the opportunity to enact this important legislation
The Education Law Center’s critical special education reform bill — SB 1115 — will not move forward in the state legislature. The 2011-12 session of the General Assembly is over. Special education legislation will need to start all over again next year when the new two-year legislative session begins.
The special education funding and accountability [...]
The Education Law Center’s critical special education reform bill — SB 1115 — will not move forward in the state legislature. The 2011-12 session of the General Assembly is over. Special education legislation will need to start all over again next year when the new two-year legislative session begins.
The special education funding and accountability reforms contained in SB 1115 should have been adopted and signed into law. Those reforms were approved three different times by the full Senate and twice by the full House of Representatives, as well as receiving nearly unanimous committee votes on dozens of occasions. Unfortunately, other things were also put into SB 1115 at the last minute, such as charter school provisions.
At this time, state officials are more interested in education issues other than special education. Children with disabilities made it close to the top of the list of legislative priorities, but charter school reform and special appropriations for a community college were more important to the people in power.
The individuals and organizations that worked so hard on this legislation deserve enormous thanks and recognition. They helped to craft the reforms contained in these bills; testified at hearings; and visited legislators to tell them about the need for special education reforms.
Stay tuned for future updates and plans for the next legislative session.
Attached are five important documents related to the advocacy work on special education funding and accountability reform.
A summary of Senate Bill 1115, special education reform legislation A voting history of the special education reform legislation from past two years A postscript of the politics [...]
Attached are five important documents related to the advocacy work on special education funding and accountability reform.
- A summary of Senate Bill 1115, special education reform legislation
- A voting history of the special education reform legislation from past two years
- A postscript of the politics that hindered adoption of the legislation in June
- A copy of a letter special education advocates recently sent to Gov. Corbett
- Talking points for contacting legislators and asking them to support this critical reform when it comes up for a vote in September.
If you have any questions, contact Brett Schaeffer at the Education Law Center: bschaeffer@elc-pa.org.
SpecialEdReformPOSTSCRIPT_7_1_12
HELP NEEDED FOR SPECIAL ED BILL THIS WEEK. CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY.
Due to strong advocate support, special education reforms to benefit children with disabilities passed the Pennsylvania House Education Committee on Monday, June 18. Thanks to all of the advocates who helped make this happen.
The comprehensive legislation for special education funding and [...]
HELP NEEDED FOR SPECIAL ED BILL THIS WEEK. CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY.
Due to strong advocate support, special education reforms to benefit children with disabilities passed the Pennsylvania House Education Committee on Monday, June 18. Thanks to all of the advocates who helped make this happen.
The comprehensive legislation for special education funding and accountability reforms passed the Committee in a unanimous vote. This is Senate Bill 1115, which has already passed the Senate.
The next step for SB 1115 is a vote in the full House tomorrow — June 20. The bill could then achieve final adoption along with the annual budget by June 30. Monday’s vote is great progress, but there’s a bit more work to do.
PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY.
Follow the instructions below for contacting legislators about this important bill.
1. Find the Harrisburg office phone number and e-mail address of the your state representative here — http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/#address.
2. Call their Harrisburg office and leave a message, asking for a vote in favor of SB 1115, and noting that the House Education Committee unanimously passed the bill on Monday.
Thanks to all of the groups and their members for getting involved and making this happen for children with disabilities.
Tagged with: House Education Committee • Pennsylvania • SB 1115 • special education • special education funding
One more round of calls should help us win final passage in the Senate!
We need help because Senate Bill 1115 for special education funding and accountability reform is expected to receive two final votes in the Pennsylvania Senate during the week of March 26.
Due to incredible support, SB 1115 [...]
One more round of calls should help us win final passage in the Senate!
We need help because Senate Bill 1115 for special education funding and accountability reform is expected to receive two final votes in the Pennsylvania Senate during the week of March 26.
Due to incredible support, SB 1115 passed the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, March 6 in a unanimous vote. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen.
The next step for SB 1115 is a vote next week in the Senate Appropriations Committee, and then a vote on the Senate floor. The goal is to send this bill to the House by early April and then achieve final adoption along with the annual budget by June 30. The vote on March 6 was great progress, but obviously we have more work to do.
The Senators need to hear from their constituents in support of SB 1115, before the upcoming votes.
The home district office phone number and e-mail address for the state senators is here – http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/#address.
E-mail or call this week to your senator’s home district office and leave a message. The senators are in the district this week.
1. What is the purpose and history of special education funding and accountability reform?
The legislation — which will have a new bill number in the coming weeks — addresses the current problems with the state systems for funding and accountability of special education for students with disabilities. The Commonwealth benefits when all students are educated and [...]
1. What is the purpose and history of special education funding and accountability reform?
The legislation — which will have a new bill number in the coming weeks — addresses the current problems with the state systems for funding and accountability of special education for students with disabilities. The Commonwealth benefits when all students are educated and prepared for meaningful employment, higher education, and self-sufficiency.
The legislation does the following:
o Provide an effective formula to distribute state funding for special education, without creating compulsory annual targets or limiting the discretion of the General Assembly;
o Increase the accuracy of the special education formula by using three weights;
o Establish a transparent process to set the final formula weights through a legislative commission and subsequent regulation;
o Maintain spending at 2008-09 levels for 2010-11 if insufficient funds are appropriated;
o Streamline and strengthen school district accountability without imposing excess bureaucracy, applied when sufficient funds are appropriated in future years; and
o Maintain the Contingency Fund and make it more accountable and transparent.
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
