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Unions and disability advocates urge lawmakers to protect compensatory and special-education funding
Summary
Union and advocacy witnesses told the subcommittee to fully fund the governor’s aid-to-education proposal and to avoid cuts to compensatory education and special-education funding pending a cost study.
Public witnesses urged the Education and Economic Development Subcommittee not to reduce funding for programs serving students with the greatest needs.
Christopher Connell, director of political and legislative affairs for SEIU Local 500, representing thousands of education support professionals, commended the governor’s proposed historic investment but warned of building-condition problems and the operational strain on staff. “We urge that you all adopt this budget fully funded,” he said, and called for additional capital investments to address unsafe facilities.
Ria Gupta, representing the Blueprint Coalition and Strong Schools Maryland, urged lawmakers to protect compensatory (comp ed) funding and to maintain a stable methodology for identifying students in poverty amid federal program changes that can affect direct certification counts. Gupta warned that a proposed $40.4 million decrease in compensatory-education funding would exacerbate needs created by declines in federal program participation.
Liz Agbi of the Maryland Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition urged delaying any reduction in per-pupil special-education funding until completion of an ongoing special-education adequacy and cost study. “Cutting funding needed for the provision of federally mandated services and supports under IDEA will greatly harm students with disabilities,” Agbi said.
Witnesses asked the subcommittee to consider amendments that would preserve funding for students with the greatest needs and to await the results of the special-education cost study before changing per-pupil levels.
