HI HR53

In 2010, the Department of Education changed special education teacher staffing from a weighted formula to a proportional formula based on each district's percentage of statewide special education enrollment.

The methodology change significantly reduced funding for special education programs and eliminated the $1,690 per teacher allocation for instructional materials and equipment.

Reduced funding resulted in loss of special education teacher and educational assistant positions, decreased quality of services, poor teaching conditions, and increased placement of unlicensed and newly hired teachers.

House Resolution 53 requests the Board of Education and Department of Education reinstate weighted funding methodology for special education programs and teachers to support student learning.