Illinois’ Grand Bargain will include a major attack on Special Education. Nobody is reporting this. Take action now.
Senate President John Cullerton’s Grand Bargain with the Repubs includes an attack on special ed.
From Bev Johns.
In a speech on Monday, Senate President John Cullerton stated that school funding reform would be part of his Grand Bargain of 13 bills on the State Budget, increasing taxes, etc. that he wanted the State Senate to vote on this week..
“The Senate President also said lawmakers will be briefed on a new school funding formula plan that will be a part of this package.”
Senate Bill 1 is now an empty shell bill that will be amended to include a new school funding formula plan.
What would it do to Special Education in Illinois?
Base special ed funding on a fixed number of general education students (no matter how many students with IEPs are in a school district).
Even worse, this is just funding. It is not based on the number of special ed teachers. A school district could employ any number of special ed teachers and still receive exactly the same amount of money.
Why? On January 17, State Senator Andy Manar stated to the Commission that school districts had “drastic overidentification” of students for special education.
Read it for yourself. Go to –
https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Illinois
https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Illinois
Look at evidence-based funding formula (2/2/17) where you can read the 449 Illinois’ Grand Bargain will include a major attack on Special Education. Nobody is reporting this. Take action now. | Fred Klonsky: