SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6014
As of January 11, 2024
Title: An act relating to increasing the special education enrollment funding cap.
Brief Description: Increasing the special education enrollment funding cap.
Sponsors: Senators Wellman, Trudeau, Dhingra, Nobles, Pedersen, Salomon, Shewmake, Stanford, Valdez and Wilson, C.; by request of Office of Financial Management.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/15/24.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Increases the K-12 special education enrollment funding cap from 15 percent to 17.25 percent.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Staff: Alex Fairfortune (786-7416)
Background:

Special Education Funding. The state allocates funding for a program of special education for students with disabilities. Special education is funded on an excess cost formula for up to 15 percent of a district's students. This formula multiplies the district's base allocation for students enrolled in K-12 special education by an excess cost multiplier of either:

  • 1.12 for students receiving special education and reported to be in the general education setting for 80 percent or more of the school day; or
  • 1.06 for students receiving special education and reported to be in the general education setting for less than 80 percent of the school day.

 

Pre-K students receiving special education services, including three-year-olds, four-year-olds, and five-year-olds not yet enrolled in kindergarten, are funded based on a multiplier of 1.2 percent. These students are excluded from the 15 percent enrollment funding cap.
Summary of Bill:

The K-12 special education enrollment funding cap is increased from 15 percent to 17.25 percent.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 11, 2024.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.