LEGISLATIVE FUNDING ALERT:
Restore Special Education Circuit Breaker Funding

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MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Massachusetts Coalition to Restore Special Education Funding is to restore funding to the Commonwealth’s special education circuit breaker account to the FY ’09 appropriation amount of $230 million dollars.

BACKGROUND

In FY ’09, the Commonwealth’s state aid circuit breaker account (7061-0012) for special education funding to local school districts stood at $230 million dollars. At this level, school districts were reimbursed 72% of special education cost per student in excess of four times the FY ’09 statewide per pupil foundation amount of $9,332. Under state special education law, Chapter 71B, section 5A, special education expenditures are to be reimbursed by the Commonwealth, subject to appropriation, at 75% of per student costs over four times the per pupil foundation amount.

Due to the current severe economic crisis, state and local funding for public education has been cut. The special education circuit breaker account was reduced in the FY ’10 state budget to $140 million. Additional 9c cuts implemented by the Governor’s office reduced the account to $133 million. The cuts total $97 million or a reduction of 42%. In contrast, the state account for general education (7061-0008), funded at $3.9 billion in FY ’09, was only cut $79 million or 2%. Federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have been used to replace cuts in both special and general education. However, federal stimulus dollars will run out and create a funding gap. Furthermore, funding to special education has been disproportionately reduced.

Students, families and school districts are being hurt by the reduction in special education funding from the state. Recent state revenue collections project a 3.2% increase for FY ’11 and funding cuts have already been restored for services for the homeless, low income families and regional school transportation. The Governor’s FY ’11 proposed state budget only increases the funding disparity between regular and special education with a $178 million, or 5%, increase for regular education and leaves a $95 million, or 41%, cut for special education.

ACTION NEEDED

Given the anticipated discrepancy between special education costs and funding in FY ’11, the FY ’09 funding level for special education of $230 million must be restored. Coalition member agencies and individuals have agreed to work together to inform the public and legislature about the negative consequences of the disproportionate cuts to special education. The Coalition will develop educational material on the impact of the cuts and educate stakeholders about the legislative process.

Coalition Member Organizations: Disability Law Center, Federation for Children with Special Needs, Massachusetts Administrators for Special Education, Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools