HARRISBURG, May 8, 2013 – Mapping the future of special education funding in Pennsylvania will not happen without the input of state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks).
Schwank has been appointed to the newly created 15-member Special Education Funding Commission by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati. The commission has until Sept. 30 to recommend a new funding formula that would be designed to more effectively pay for special education throughout the commonwealth.
“Pennsylvania’s current special education spending directives are out-of-date and often fail to adequately address the needs of children,” Schwank said. “Some special education facilities need more financial assistance than they are currently receiving and some need less. I am looking forward to helping to change this reality and I thank Sen. Scarnati for naming me to the commission.”
The Special Education Funding Commission was created when Gov. Tom Corbett signed into law House Bill 2 on April 25.
In addition to the chairs and vice-chairs of the House and Senate education committees, the panel will include eight legislators, the secretaries of education and budget, and the state deputy secretary for elementary and special education.
Schwank said the commission will hold public hearings this summer to help it develop a new funding formula. HB2 is guiding the group to consider funding for students with least-intensive to most-intensive disabilities. Other factors will also be considered.
“From Reading to Erie to Philadelphia, the commonwealth needs a better way to make sure our critical special education dollars are getting to the right teachers in the right districts,” Schwank said.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.