State Rep. Emrick Endorses Special Education Bill

State Rep. Joe Emrick, R-Northampton, is endorsing a bill which would create a legislative commission to address discrepancies in funding for special education.

The legislation may now be taken up by the full House following unanimous passage Monday by the House Education Commission.

"Our schools and our taxpayers are in desperate need of this legislation, which speaks to sufficient funding for education and efficient distribution of taxpayer dollars,” said Emrick, a committee member who represents Forks and Palmer Townships.

House Bill 2 creates a legislative commission to recommend a new formula for distribution of state funding for special education.

The current method is based on an estimate that the average daily enrollment of each district includes 16 percent of students with special education needs.

"The dollars are there, but the way they are being distributed is inaccurate and antiquated," Emrick added. "School districts are struggling with special education costs due to underfunding, and this commission will be asked to develop a method that takes the guesswork out of the accounting practice and reallocates support to those districts that truly need it."

For more information on this or any other legislative issue, please contact Emrick’s Mt. Bethel office at (570) 897-0401, or his Nazareth office at (610) 746-5090.