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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Barb McIlvaine Smith |
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McIlvaine Smith holds informational hearing on special education funding
HARRISBURG, Nov. 19 – House Special Education Subcommittee Chairwoman Barb McIlvaine Smith, D-Chester, hosted an informational hearing at the state Capitol on Tuesday on the current status and challenges of special education funding in Pennsylvania.
"This hearing was the beginning of a conversation about establishing a fair special education funding formula, as many have suggested needs to happen," McIlvaine Smith said. "It is important to take a look at how we fund special education because we owe it to the special needs community and to all taxpayers."
In Pennsylvania, 271,107 school-age students, or 15 percent of the school population, are receiving special education services.
"Pennsylvania works hard to provide a free, appropriate public education for our special needs students," McIlvaine Smith said. "However, the challenge to fund special education has become increasingly difficult as costs to provide services rise and identification of these students rises as well. We must provide services to these students on a consistent basis and do so in the most cost-effective manner possible."
At the hearing, John Tomassini, director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education, gave an overview of special education in Pennsylvania. He noted that the state is moving forward in how it meets the needs of exceptional children. In 1974, the focus was on compliance, monitoring and professional development; whereas in 2008, the focus is more on student outcomes, teacher support and providing the least restrictive environment for the child, as mandated by the federal government's Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The rate of Pennsylvania students with disabilities receiving a high school diploma or certificate of completion rose from 75 percent in 1987 to 84 percent in 2008; post-secondary enrollment rose from 15 percent to 32 percent; and four-year college enrollment rose from 1 percent to 9 percent.
"Every child in Pennsylvania deserves the best possible education," McIlvaine Smith said. "All children need exposure to art, music and sports. All children need to be given every opportunity to socialize with their peers. And all children need to be prepared to either attend college or enter into the job market upon graduation from high school."
Representatives from the National Conference of State Legislators and the Maryland State Department of Education also testified at the hearing about funding strategies in other states. McIlvaine Smith said she plans to hold more hearings on special education funding in the future.
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