HB 2307

                                                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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