Senate Bill 646 Contact Your Legislators!
Terry Collins, Director DCEC #616
March 05, 2008
As you are aware the KASEA Legislative Committee drafted a letter regarding changing the current funding formula in response to House Bill 2753 and 2790. The letter indicates that past studies completed by Mr. Roger Allen and Mr. Tom Parish concluded that Categorical Aid would be the most appropriate way of funding special education in Kansas. It goes on to state that as an organization, KASEA is deeply concerned that the proposed legislation could have serious harmful financial impact on many districts and may preclude many disabled students from receiving the federally mandated services they are entitled to receive.
A hearing on Senate Bill 646 is scheduled for 1:30 today. It is essentially the same as HB 2790. While late notice precludes most of us from testifying at the hearing, I believe it is important for all of us to contact our Senators and inform them that the Kansas Association of Special Education Administrators request that Legislators not prematurely make changes in the financing formula for special education services. But rather, we would ask that the Kansas State Department of Education appoint a task force made up of representatives from KSDE, USA, KASB, Superintendents, Legislators, and KASEA to study and determine if there is a more effective way to fund special education services, with the intent of a proposal from this task force to be presented to the 2009 Education Committees
Thank you.
