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Broad support for HB 603’s call to raise state share of special-education costs but questions remain on design
Summary
Rep. Heath Howard told the Education Funding Committee HB 603 would significantly raise state support for pupils with individualized education programs, arguing the change would stabilize local budgets and reduce volatile property-tax impacts.
Representative Heath Howard introduced HB 603, which would increase the adequacy grant for pupils receiving special-education services and shift a greater share of special-education costs from local property taxpayers to the state. Howard said he and co-sponsors seek to reduce volatile, unpredictable local budget spikes caused by a small number of high-cost placements and to increase the state share of special-education funding.
Howard described data showing dramatic special-education cost increases in some districts and cited statewide totals (witnesses referenced a roughly $755 million figure for special-education-related spending after excluding some non-instructional items). He said many districts struggle when students enter mid-year with high-cost needs that must be met…
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