By State Senator Cathy Cook
Connecticut's towns and cities need more help from the state to pay for education, including special education. That is, admittedly, a broad statement, but one with which few state residents would disagree. The devil is in the details. How does the state decide how much money to allocate to each municipality for education, including special education? Is it enough? Is the system fair?
The number of proposals regarding education and special education funding suggested by legislators this year is a sign that many, if not most, legislators believe that changes in the funding system are warranted. This month, the Education Committee is holding public hearings on several of them, including Governor Rell's proposal to create a Commission on Educational Finance and Accountability to, among other things, look at how education is financed in Connecticut.
I, too, believe we need to take a close look at how we distribute Education Cost Sharing Grants (ECS) - our primary method for funneling state education money to cities and towns - and, especially, at how the state helps municipalities pay for special education.
Basically, the state considers the number of students, the municipality's wealth and the minimum amount of money deemed necessary to adequately educate an average student, along with a few other factors, to determine each district's ECS grant. The distribution of the funds has changed as the population and relative wealth of towns has changed over time. To put this in perspective, Hartford receives the most ECS funding while Groton ranks 14th in terms of ECS funding. Stonington is ranked 112th, and New London is ranked 16 th .
Of course, educating children with special education needs is more expensive. Under existing law, municipalities are responsible for providing special education with the state picking up the tab for costs that exceed five times the district's average per-pupil spending for the preceding year. So, as explained by the legislature's nonpartisan research office, if a district pays an average of $9,000 to educate each average student, then it would be responsible for the first $45,000 to educate each special education student, with the state paying any excess costs.
In 2001, the General Assembly passed legislation reducing the special education excess cost threshold from five to 4.5 times each district's average per pupil expenditure, but later voted to delay implementing the change. As of now, the change is set to take place in July.
The challenge facing the legislature is to develop a formula for fairly funding education for all Connecticut children, regardless of where they live and regardless of what types of educational services they need. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am working with my legislative colleagues to negotiate a fair education funding formula that will provide help to all students.
As always, I urge you to contact me with any questions or concerns you have regarding any of the issues facing the legislature. I can be reached toll free at 1-(800) 842-1421 or you can send me e-mail at Catherine.Cook@cga.ct.gov .
All the best,
Cathy |
