PSBA's Legislative Priorities

When new legislation passes, PSBA is seen as the leader in analyzing it and helping members make sense of it.

PSBA's legislative priorities: 2007-08

Support for the reduction or elimination of the costs to school districts for cyber and charter schools, a change in the state funding system for special education, support for legislation that would provide more options for districts regarding construction or renovation projects, and relief from burdensome state mandates were targeted this week as priority issues for the PSBA for the 2007-08 session of the General Assembly.

Council members then voted for the issues they felt needed the greatest legislative attention. Those items are:

  • The association supports legislation that reduces or eliminates the financial burden on school districts for cyber and charter schools. (Platform Item D-9)
  • The association supports legislation to increase the state contribution for special education services based on actual cost incurred and students served. ( Platform Item E-1)
  • The association supports legislation that provides school districts with the same options for school construction and/or renovation projects that are available to the private sector. This includes, but is not limited to, relief from the Prevailing Wage Act and Separations Act, the availability of the privatization concept of school construction to school entities, the establishment of a lease/purchase subsidy of schools comparable to that provided for traditional construction, and the opportunity for school districts to contract with a single firm to design and build school facilities. (Platform Item A-1)
  • The association supports legislation requiring a periodic review of state-mandated programs, providing for full and continual funding of such programs and authorizing school entities to discontinue programs when funding is inadequate or terminated. (Platform Item H-2)