HJ0108 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0108 LRB094 19807 EFG 56767 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In the 2004-2005 school year, over 321,000 children with disabilities were served in special education programs across Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The number of children in special education programs has risen 12% in the last 5 years alone, and special education accounts for approximately 21% of all education spending; and

WHEREAS, The federal government has established a goal of reimbursing 40% of the costs of special education incurred by school districts, but it currently provides only 18% of costs nationally and only 14% in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has failed for decades to update reimbursement rates for special education costs, with the last reimbursement rate set in 1973 for special education orphanage tuition, in 1985 for special education personnel, in 1978 for special education private tuition, in 1976 for special education summer school, and in 1965 for special education transportation; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has continued to prorate special education mandated categoricals at less than 100%, with the FY06 budget prorating these mandated categoricals at 97%; and

WHEREAS, Even if Illinois fully funded mandated categoricals at 100%, this would still only represent partial funding, as the reimbursement rates are severely outdated; and

WHEREAS, Illinois school districts currently spend an estimated $1 billion from their own general education funds to meet the unreimbursed costs of special education services that are mandated by federal and State laws and administrative rules; and

WHEREAS, Special education continues to represent a growing financial burden on school districts as the need for services increases while State and federal funding fails to increase along with that need; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that a task force shall be created to study current special education funding needs and to make recommendations as to how the State can increase special education funding and ease the financial burden on school districts; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the task force shall consist of the State Superintendent of Education (or his or her designee) plus 16 members appointed as follows: the House Majority Leader and the House Minority Leader shall each appoint one representative, the Senate President and the Senate Minority Leader shall each appoint one senator, and these 4 leaders shall each appoint 3 public members representing the interests of special education administrators and services, school districts, and disability advocates; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2007; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be transmitted to the State Superintendent of Education.