Special Education Funding Commission request extension until April 30, 2020 to finish report.

Thank you for your interest in the Special Education Funding Commission and for visiting the Commission’s website.

The Special Education Funding Commission was established in Act 3 of 2013 to review and make recommendations regarding special education funding in Pennsylvania. Part of that law required the reconstitution of the Special Education Funding Commission every five years to review the current funding formula and re-evaluate the state of special education funding in Pennsylvania.

Act 16 of 2019, which became law in June, established the recommission of the Special Education Funding Commission and instructed the commission to focus its review on the formula which directs state funding to school districts in Pennsylvania that have the greatest need for additional resources based upon the cost of each special education student.

The commission will meet throughout the fall around the state to hear testimony and develop a report and recommendations.

The current special education funding formula, one of the original Special Education Funding Commission’s recommendations in 2013, was enacted by the General Assembly, signed into law by the Governor and took effect for the 2014-15 fiscal year. The original Special Education Funding Commission, which was co-chaired by Senator Browne and retired Rep. Bernie O’Neill, held seven meetings throughout the state over seven months and heard testimony from more than 50 witnesses before making a recommendation in December of 2013 to the General Assembly for the creation of a new special education funding formula.

The reconstituted Special Education Funding Commission is required to issue its report to the General Assembly no later than November 30, 2019.

The report and recommendations from the Special Education Funding Commission will not go into effect, however, without legislation approved by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor.

This website will be updated periodically as new information is available.

Sincerely,

Senator Pat Browne, Representative Curtis Sonney and Education Secretary Pedro Rivera
Co-Chairs of the Special Education Funding Commission

Committee Members

Governor’s Administration

Pedro Rivera (Co-Chair), Secretary of Education
Matt Stem, Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education
Greg Thall, Esq., Special Assistant to the Budget Secretary

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