Several bills involving Special Education were heard today in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. As a brief background, there is an estimated $308-$400 million shortfall in how special education is funded in Washington state, according to Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, in order to maintain the current system, more to change the system.

SB 5736 – Concerning the funding allocation for special education programs, increases the special education cost multiplier from 0.9609 to 0.98 (in addition to basic education), will generate approximately $41.5 million over the next 2 years.

On January 23rd, SB 5312, by Request of Superintendent of Public Instruction, was heard.
Summary of SB 5312: Special education excess costs are calculated based on a tiered-multiplier system, rather than a fixed multiplier of 0.9609. Multipliers are assigned to bands based on the weekly minutes of special education services and the service environment, aligned with federally reported least restrictive environment designations. Each month, districts must report the sum of special education services, related services, and supplemental aids and supports by weekly minutes for each individualized education program. SB 5312 raises 88.9 million over the next 2 years and total of $290.3 million over the next 6 years.

As you may know school districts currently have to use local levies to fund Special Education. Districts that are unable to pass local levies are at a significant disadvantage. Also, districts where property values are much lower than in the Puget Sound are at an extreme disadvantage with this system. To say that our state’s students with disabilities are facing Civil Rights inequities under the current system of funding Special Education is an understatement.

We realize our legislators are faced with making very difficult appropriations decisions every day this session. We need you to compel them to consider funding Special Education a priority this session and choose funding priorities that will bring about meaningful Special Education Appropriation.

The following Senators serve on the Ways & Means Committee:

If you live in these districts, please call or email them and let them know this is important to you, share a little about how you’re involved with special education and how special education funding impacts your family and ask your Senator choose funding priorities that will bring about meaningful Special Education Appropriation this session.

Thank you for standing together with us for change!