SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING IN PA

There is a serious injustice being done in Pennsylvania and it affects our Special Education students.

The 2008 Education Reform Act addressed many important areas in our public school system.  One glaring neglect, however, was Special Education.  This vital area was left out of the reforms of 2008 and it is time to correct this oversight.  House Bill 704 seeks to do just that.  It would change the way school districts are funded for Special Education from a flat percentage to an actual need basis.

At the moment a total of 16 % of school students in PA have Special Needs.  Currently the State allocates to each district by using the total student enrollment in each district, calculating 16 % of that total, then providing funds to the district based on that figure.  However, since this is a state-wide average virtually no district in Pennsylvania has 16% of its students in Special Education. They have more - or less - but likely not 16%.  Still, that is how they are funded.  Thus a district that has, let's say, 20% of their students in Special Education finds themselves falling critically short of the needed funds to serve this population.  At the same time, a District with 12% of its census in Special Education receives more money than needed.  By the way, House Bill 704 also calls for greater accountability for the use of the funds received.  This ensures that the money is used for what it is intended.

The PA Senate Education Committee has decided that it will only vote for HB 704 if Senator Pileggi, as the Senate Majority Leader, first gives his approval for a vote both in Committee and on the Senate floor. Most senators are prepared to support this legislation if Senator Pileggi allows a vote to happen during the next couple of weeks.  If you are a citizen of Pennsylvania I would urge you to call Senator Pileggi and urge his support of this bill.  Because he is the Senate Majority Leader any citizen in the State has the right to do this.  Then, call your own State Senator and urge his support as well.  Follow those calls up by writing a brief note of appreciation.

Here are some suggested Talking Points which I have taken from the PA Council of Churches website.
Talking Points
These talking points will work for Senator Pileggi (contact him first even if you live outside Chester or Delaware Counties) or any other state senator.

1. Please support House Bill 704 in the Senate Education Committee and on the Senate floor.  HB 704 deserves your support and a vote before the end of the year.
2. I am asking you to support reform of the state funding and accountability system for special education.
3. HB 704 has 66 bipartisan cosponsors. It was approved 173-25 by the full House of Representatives in June.
4. 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.
5. The school districts you represent need additional resources and support from the state, and must be held accountable for results.
6. I have personal experience with how this broken system hurts children with disabilities and all students. (Describe your experience.)
7. Thank you for supporting this important issue and voting for HB 704.

This is a matter of urgency as time is running out.  Please act today.  Our Special Education students need your help!

-gdgehr
September 30, 2010