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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 24


 
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    WHEREAS, In the 2005-2006 school year, over 322,000 
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children with disabilities were served in special education 
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programs across Illinois; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The number of children in special education 
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programs has risen 5.4% in the last 5 years, and special 
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education accounts for approximately 23% of all State education 
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spending; and

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

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

 
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    WHEREAS, Illinois has continued to prorate special 
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education mandated categoricals at less than 100%, with the 
 


 






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FY07 budget prorating these mandated categoricals at 97%; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Even if Illinois fully funded mandated 
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categoricals at 100%, this would still only represent partial 
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funding, as the reimbursement rates are severely outdated; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Illinois school districts currently spend an 
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estimated $1 billion from their own general education funds to 
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meet the unreimbursed costs of special education services that 
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are mandated by federal and State laws and administrative 
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rules; and

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

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

 
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    RESOLVED, That the task force shall consist of the State 
 


 






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

 
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    RESOLVED, That the task force shall report its findings and 
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recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by 
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August 1, 2008; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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transmitted to the State Superintendent of Education.