To: Members of the U.S. Congress (Hand Delivered in Washington D.C.)
From: Kimberly Geyer, P.O. Box 659, Mars, Pennsylvania 16046, 724-799-1195
Date: January 30, 2005-February 2, 2005 at Capitol Hill
Re: Congressional Funding of IDEA and Title 1 for Pennsylvania School Districts

To Whom It May Concern,

As a school director and advocate for Pennsylvania schools I want to take this opportunity to alert you to the following facts and numbers in regards to the federal shortfall which continues to plague all students and schools across this great country in regards to the Title 1 and IDEA shortfall in funding. While I cannot speak for other states, I wanted to let you know that here in Pennsylvania....schools receive even less than the estimated national averages of $1,735.00 as was classified as school districts receiving per identified pupil needing IDEA services.

Please allow me to explain, in Pennsylvania; currently our district (Mars Area School District) receives $963.00 for each identified IDEA student. The Intermediate Unit (to which our school belongs to, in this case, Intermediate Unit #4) keeps $140.00 for each identified IDEA student and the State (PA, in this case) keeps approximately 10% or $122 for each IDEA student. Add those three numbers together (963+140+122=$1,225) and therefore the maximum provided by the feds is $1,225.00 per student...that's the gross net before the two deductions and then the amount given to local school districts. Therefore, we have concluded as a result, that the feds only provide about 15% of funding, which is a far cry from the 40% commitment which is the rhetoric we and the public keep hearing. It is significant to note that the State and the Intermediate Units are mandated by the Federal Government to provide specific services with their shares. Furthermore, it's important for school districts to note to Congress and their public that it is doubtful that any district would ever receive 100% of the federal commitment…ever. So, while Congress may seem to think local school districts are receiving an estimated national average, which varies, they simply are not.
By the time that funding has reached the local level, the estimated funding is drastically decreased as previously demonstrated. Therefore, the local taxpayer picks up the responsibility of funding education.

The recently passed IDEA Improvement Act (December of 2004) provides a schedule to meet the 40% commitment by the year 2011...however the recent allocation for 2005 is not meeting the schedule and the feds are already behind in their commitment to appropriate funding. People should keep in mind that the 40% figure is a TARGET...an aspirational target.....while Congress is saying they are providing 40% funding to schools for IDEA...as you will note from the figures...it is quite the contrary. In reality, funding levels here in Pennsylvania have been closer to 12% prior to the recent reauthorization which took place just last month (December 2004). Schools and identified students needing support services pertaining to IDEA and Title 1 deserve credible funding to truly aspire and meet the goals and objectives of leaving no child left behind. This funding shortfall should not be the responsibility and burden of the local taxpayers of school districts.

In closing, I want to thank our district’s business manager, Jill Puryear, for her expertise and cooperation in ascertaining the figures to enable me to convey, as well as, relay the realistic situation we are dealing with here in Pennsylvania. Congress needs to ask themselves, why they
vote to authorize increased funding amounts for education, such as the 40% for IDEA & Title 1, only to appropriate 12-15% to the states? If you vote to authorize 40% in the legislation, Congress should be held accountable! It’s unfair to students with disabilities, students receiving special education services, students from lower socioeconomic areas, local taxpayers who receive the burden each year to fund the shortfall, and school districts who have to generate new funding through increased local property taxes to provide educational services due to the federal shortfall.

I will look forward to hearing back your response soon.

Sincerely,
Kim Geyer
Mars Area School Director
P.O. Box 659
724-799-1195
marsrrservices@zoominternet.net