We testified in the K-12 Education Budget Committee hearing yesterday on a bill (HB 2594) to create a new task force to study education funding in preparation for the sunset of the current formula in 2027 and to abolish the current special education task force. We and other conferees opposed abolishing the SPED task force and supported adding other people with more expertise in school finance and different perspectives.

Rep. Estes asked a follow up question bristling at the implication that the legislators, some of whom are former teachers, school board members and administrators lack expertise. We think this is part of the problem. We’ve been advocating for public education for over a decade, and we understand a lot, but we know we don’t have the level of expertise as a school district employee who has the day-to-day experience of managing a district’s finances. The same can be said for special education. The level of discussion during the one SPED task force meeting was substantially different from a legislative hearing when conferees are limited to a brief statement and then questions and answers rather than being able to fully engage in discussion.

It is particularly troubling that Rep. Williams fought to get the SPED task force, but once it became clear it would have a majority that wouldn’t support her as chair, she tried to avoid calling a meeting and now wants to abolish it though the majority of the task force wants to continue their work.

Published on Facebook on January 30th, 2024.