Finds the current special education safety net process needs to be modified in order to ease the administrative burden on school districts and to make the process more transparent and streamlined. It is the intent of the legislature to maintain the requirement that a school district operate effective and efficient special education programs in order to be eligible for a special education safety net award, but at the same time, the legislature intends to make the application and grant process less cumbersome and time consuming. It is further the purpose of this act to provide additional funds through the special education safety net to assist districts with extraordinary high-cost needs students.

Appropriates the sum of twenty-five million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, from the general fund to the office of the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of special education safety net awards to school districts pursuant to this act.

Appropriates the sum of twenty-five million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, from the general fund to the office of the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of special education safety net awards to school districts pursuant to this act.