HB 2307 (2025-2026) – Pennsylvania Public School Code amendments
Purpose
- The bill aims to modify the Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949 provisions related to reimbursements by the Commonwealth and between school districts, with a focus on extraordinary special education program expenses.
- It is framed as a reform of the Special Education Contingency Fund and related funding mechanisms.
Key provisions (as reflected in bill title and memo)
- Reimbursement framework: Revisions to how the Commonwealth reimburses school districts for extraordinary special education program expenses. This would affect the formulas, eligibility, or timing of reimbursements currently provided under the Public School Code.
- Inter-district reimbursements: Changes to how funds are transferred or allocated between school districts for special education costs that exceed ordinary operating expenses, potentially addressing gaps or delays in funding.
- Special Education Contingency Fund Reform: The memo accompanying the bill highlights reform of the Special Education Contingency Fund, suggesting adjustments to how the fund is managed, accessed, or disbursed during periods of elevated extraordinary costs.
- Administrative/process changes: The bill, through its provisions, would likely alter reporting, documentation, and oversight requirements related to extraordinary special education expenses and reimbursements.
Who is affected
- Public school districts in Pennsylvania: School districts would experience changes in reimbursement eligibility, calculation, timing, and inter-district transfers for extraordinary special education costs.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and state fiscal offices: The agencies responsible for administering reimbursements and overseeing the Special Education Contingency Fund would implement new procedures and reporting requirements.
- Students with special education needs: Indirectly affected through potential changes in the funding stability and responsiveness for extraordinary costs.
Procedural and timeline aspects
- Status: Referred to the House Education Committee on March 23, 2026; reported as committed and first considered on April 28, 2026; subsequently laid on the table the same day.
- Committee action: The House Education Committee voted 26 yes, 0 no to report the bill as committed.
- Next potential steps: If advanced, the bill would move through the legislative process (potential amendments, floor debate, and votes in both chambers) and could be signed into law by the Governor or face veto/override processes depending on final legislative action.
Notes and context
- Prime sponsor: Representative Emily Kinkead (D) with several co-sponsors from the Democratic caucus.
- The bill’s emphasis on “Special Education Contingency Fund Reform” signals a policy shift toward more structured or responsive funding for extraordinary costs in special education, aiming to improve fiscal predictability for districts facing high-cost cases.
- Specific numerical changes (e.g., reimbursement rates, thresholds, or fund allocation formulas) are not detailed in the summary materials provided; the full bill text would include exact provisions.
This summary reflects the bill’s stated scope to reform reimbursements and contingency funding related to extraordinary special education expenses within the Public School Code. For stakeholders, key questions include how the proposed changes would alter district budgeting, timing of reimbursements, and administrative requirements.
