HB 2307 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for extraordinary special education program expenses.

PRINTER'S NO.   3040

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2307
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY KINKEAD, WAXMAN, PROBST, HILL-EVANS, INGLIS,
        PASHINSKI, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND ABNEY, MARCH 19, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 23, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in reimbursements by Commonwealth and
 6      between school districts, further providing for extraordinary
 7      special education program expenses.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    Section 2509.8(f)(i) of the act of March 10, 1949
11   (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
12   amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to
13   read:
14      Section 2509.8.    Extraordinary Special Education Program
15   Expenses.--* * *
16      (f)   (i)   For the 2016-2017 school year [and each school year
17   thereafter] through the 2025-2026 school year, an amount equal
18   to one percent (1%) of the special education appropriation shall
19   be distributed to school districts and charter schools for
20   extraordinary expenses incurred in providing a special education
 1   program or service to one or more students with disabilities as
 2   approved by the Secretary of Education. Such special education
 3   program or service shall include, but not be limited to, the
 4   transportation of students with disabilities; services related
 5   to occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language,
 6   hearing impairments or visual impairments; or training in
 7   orientation and mobility for children who are visually impaired
 8   or blind.
 9      * * *
10      (h)   For the 2026-2027 school year and each school year
11   thereafter, an amount equal to two percent (2%) of the special
12   education appropriation shall be distributed to school districts
13   and charter schools for extraordinary expenses incurred in
14   providing a special education program or service under section
15   1372(8)(vi) to one or more students with disabilities as
16   approved by the Secretary of Education. The following shall
17   apply:
18      (1)   No more than one percent (1%) of the special education
19   appropriation may be distributed to school districts and charter
20   schools as follows:
21      (i)   Funds distributed under this clause shall be allocated
22   for each student for which all the following are met:
23      (A)   Expenses for the student incurred on an annual basis
24   are greater than the maximum threshold of Category 3A as
25   provided for under section 1372(8).
26      (B)   The expenses associated with the application represent
27   at least one percent (1%) of the school district's total special
28   education expenditures as reported in the most recent annual
29   financial reports submitted in accordance with section 218.
30      (C)   The student has been enrolled in the school district for

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 1   no more than two (2) consecutive school years.
 2      (ii)    The department shall prioritize applications with the
 3   highest rates under subclause (i)(B).
 4      (2)    No more than one percent (1%) of the special education
 5   appropriation may be distributed to school districts and charter
 6   schools as follows:
 7      (i)    Money distributed under this clause shall be allocated
 8   for each student for which all the following are met:
 9      (A)    Expenses for the student incurred on an annual basis
10   are greater than the maximum threshold of Category 3A as
11   provided in section 1372(8).
12      (B)    The student has been enrolled in the school district or
13   charter school for no more than two (2) consecutive school
14   years.
15      (ii)    The department shall prioritize applications with the
16   highest expenses under subclause (i)(A).
17      (3)    The following shall apply to money distributed to a
18   school district or a charter school under this subsection:
19      (i)    A school district or charter school may not receive an
20   aggregate amount under this subsection in any school year which
21   exceeds the greater of:
22      (A)    the total amount of funding available multiplied by the
23   percentage equal to the school district or charter school's
24   percentage of the State's special education students enrolled in
25   the school district or charter school; or
26      (B)    double the maximum threshold of Category 3A as provided
27   for under section 1372(8).
28      (ii)    The department may distribute uncommitted, unexpended
29   funds to school districts that submitted a referendum exception
30   under section 333(f)(v) of the act of June 27, 2006 (1st

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1   Sp.Sess., P.L.1873, No.1), known as the Taxpayer Relief Act, for
2   the current or prior fiscal year.
3      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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