PRINTER'S NO. 469
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
49
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY RYAN, HILL-EVANS, CIRESI, BOBACK, STAATS,
KAUFFMAN, STRUZZI, COX, MOUL, GLEIM AND KEEFER,
FEBRUARY 10, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 10, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to provide funding for
Federal mandates with respect to special education in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Unfunded Federal mandates in the area of education
have saddled schools, local communities and taxpayers with
burdens of unparalleled proportions; and
WHEREAS, Schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania rely on
State taxes and property taxes to fund these unfunded Federal
education mandates, otherwise known as cost drivers, as well as
locally desired programs; and
WHEREAS, One of the principal cost drivers for schools in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the unfunded Federal mandate
associated with educating children with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, The Federal Government's prescription for helping
children with disabilities without corresponding funding raises
the risk of those children not receiving the special education
they need; and
WHEREAS, Unfunded Federal special education mandates put the
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parents of children with disabilities in the unfortunate
position of searching for school districts that have programs
that meet the diverse needs of their children; and
WHEREAS, Unfunded Federal special education mandates
significantly impact the ability of school districts in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to formulate a budget due to the
unknown costs associated with a varying degree of special
education needs; and
WHEREAS, Unfunded Federal special education mandates are
responsible for an average of 12% to 17% of a school district's
budget in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania being allocated to
help children with disabilities with limited funding assistance
from the Federal Government; and
WHEREAS, As a result, school districts in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania are forced to increase property taxes; and
WHEREAS, Federal funding for special education mandates in
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ensures that Commonwealth
residents will not be the sole source of funding for these
mandates; and
WHEREAS, Parents of children with disabilities should not
have to move to a different school district in order for their
children to receive a quality education as a result of unfunded
Federal special education mandates; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to provide funding for Federal mandates with respect to
special education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
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member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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