Liz Fletcher | Support HB742

I strongly support HB 742 and HB 603, both are essential for improving the funding of special education services in our state. Towns are being crushed by the costs of special education, especially small towns like Mason where last year one student required $100,000 worth of special education services. Another student of similar needs could bankrupt the town. Public education is strongly supported in Mason, our elementary school is tops in the state. But special education needs can wildly inflate the budget. With less than 2,000 population, Mason lacks the tax base to absorb huge cost increases. State special education funding assistance is vital. The current funding doesn't adequately cover the costs of providing special education in our public schools, placing a heavy burden on school districts and local taxpayers. By removing the arbitrary, prorated cap on reimbursements for special education aid, HB 742 will help ensure that school districts are reimbursed for providing services. The Education Trust Fund, which is partly funded by the tobacco settlement with about $40,000,000/year (see RSA 198:39) would have enough money to send more than 17% of the cost of special education to the towns. Special education funding should receive higher priority for Education Trust Funds than the Education Freedom Accounts, two-thirds of which are awarded to pupils already attending private schools. Private schools rarely take on students needing special education, so it's mainly up to the public schools to provide these services. Over 30,000 students received special education services last year in our public schools. HB 603's proposal to increase the adequacy grant for pupils receiving special education services will provide some relief for hard-pressed local taxpayers. As a taxpayer concerned about education, I strongly support increasing special education funding to the towns. Thank you for your consideration, Liz Fletcher