Special Education Coalition Releases Groundbreaking “Costing Out” Study
Special Education Coalition Releases Groundbreaking “Costing Out” Study
A comprehensive and timely report on special education funding in Pennsylvania has been issued by Augenblick, Palaich and Associates, the national consultants who performed the 2007 Costing-out Study for the Commonwealth. Commissioned by The Arc of Pennsylvania, the Education Law Center of PA and the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, Costing-Out the Resources Needed to Meet Pennsylvania’s Education Goals for Students with Disabilities addresses special education solutions based on the 2007 study.
The new report finds that reforming the state system for special education funding would provide children with disabilities with the basic supports and services needed to succeed in school. Most school districts currently do not have the basic resources needed to provide a quality education to students with disabilities.
The report finds that 391 school districts have inadequate funding for special education. Statewide, the total gap in annual funding for special education is $380 million.
This issue will be a top legislative priority during consideration of the 2009-10 state budget.
To read the press release, click here. The full report may be downloaded by clicking here.