House Bill 12 Summary

• Extends state funding for basic special education to kindergarten through grade 3 students, previously only available for grades 4-12.

• Phases in K-3 basic special education funding gradually over 4 school years: 14.2 pupil ratio (2017-2018), 12.2 (2018-2019), 10.2 (2019-2020), and 8.4 (2020-2021 and beyond).

• Requires K-3 basic special education students to be counted separately from 4-12 basic students until the 2021-2022 school year to account for different unit values.

• Designates that all units generated by special education students must support professional staff serving students with disabilities, including teachers, psychologists, speech pathologists, and related services personnel.

• Authorizes districts to use up to 5% of special education units for paraprofessionals or to convert units to funding for related services.