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Committee advances bill to seek funding for special-education pre-K services
Summary
House Bill 401 was advanced to full education after sponsor testimony describing an unfunded federal requirement to serve some three- and four-year-old students in pre-K special education and the cost burdens on districts.
The subcommittee voted to advance House Bill 401 to full education after sponsor Chairman White described the fiscal strain districts face when they serve three- and four-year-old children entitled to special education services without federal or state funding.
Chairman White told the committee that “the federal law requires that our pre k that any student that has special needs as early as age 3, the federal government requires them to be reenrolled in a pre k program. The federal government sends no money for this.” He said his district bears roughly “about $800,000 extra dollars a year” and estimated statewide costs “probably costing our statewide about $80,000,000 for funding sped pre k students.”
White said the bill is intended to help districts “draw down funding for the sped students and the 3 and 4 year olds that the federal government requires, but there is no funding for that.” Committee members voiced support and indicated they would consider financing options in the Finance Committee if the bill reaches that stage.
The clerk announced five ayes and no recorded no votes; the chair said, “House bill 401 moves out to full education.” The transcript records sponsor explanation and expressions of member support but does not record a specific funding source or appropriation mechanism in committee.
