Implore the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) to follow through on the Superintendent’s Requested Budget!
Background:
Superintendent Martirano has asked the Howard County Board of Education for a $5.4 million increase in the special education budget. The majority of this increase, $3.8 million will go to teachers and paraeducators, that will directly work with students, including 33 new positions among the school age population and 27.5 new positions with the Birth-5 age population.
Dr. Martirano requested 40 fewer new positions this year, pointing to major budget and enrollment strains coming next year. These budget increases are the minimum needed to keep up with enrollment growth in the District, including 163 new special education students. We know our students will need to make up major ground lost during the pandemic, and our schools need to have sufficient staff to keep our students safe and included.
Our students have the right to compensatory education services and we need the Board to budget realistically for the heavy needs that are coming in 2021-22. The challenges facing the special education community are part of a $70 million equity gap in Howard County Schools.
Action Needed:
Please ask the Board of Education to act on all of Dr. Martirano’s 21-22 special education request. Send an email to boe@hcpss.org. All members of the Board of Education will receive a copy. Include personal stories about how this action will impact your child, family and community!
CLICK for a link to AUSOM testimony presented to the Board of Education on February 16, 2021 by Andrew Stettner. CLICK for information and documents about the proposed FY 21-22 HCPSS budget
