After  the  Elections:    What’s  Next  for  Special  Education   in  Washington  &  Springfield?Myrna  MandlawitzLegislative  Consultant,  

Council  of  Administrators  of  Special  Education  (CASE)  

Shannon  Miller  BelliniLegislative  Consultant,  

Illinois  Alliance  of  Administrators  of  Special  

Education  (IAASE)  

Kevin  RubensteinDirector  of  Student  Services,  

Lake  Bluff  ESD  65President,  IAASE

Policy  &  Legislative  Chair,  CASE

Myrna  MandlawitzLegislative  Consultant,  

Council  of  Administrators  of  Special  Education  (CASE)  

Shannon  Miller  BelliniLegislative  Consultant,  

Illinois  Alliance  of  Administrators  of  Special  

Education  (IAASE)  

Kevin  RubensteinDirector  of  Student  Services,  

Lake  Bluff  ESD  65President,  IAASE

Policy  &  Legislative  Chair,  CASE

Agenda1.  What  to  Expect  from  Washington2.  What  to  Expect  from  Springfield3.  Questions  and  Answers

Springfield  – Governor’s  OfficeWho’s  Out? Who’s  In?

• $750M  toward  Evidence  Based  Funding• $75  Million  Tax  Credit  for  Private  Schools

• Budget  Stalemate

• Continued  focus  on  Evidence  Based  Funding?

• Repeal  of  $75  Million  Tax  Credit  for  Private  Schools

• Higher  Education  and  Early  Childhood

Governor’s  Office  – The  Transition•Governor-­‐Elect  Pritzker  has  appointed  several  educators  to  his  Education  Success  Committee• Chairs  of  CommitteeKathy  Griffin,  President,  Illinois  Education  AssociationJanice  Jackson,  Chicago  Public  Schools  CEOState  Senator  Andy  ManarState  Representative  Chris  Welch

• Special  Education  /  Disability  FocusedZena  Naiditch,  CEO/  President,  Equip  for  EqualityDr.  Kevin  Rubenstein,  President,  IAASE

• Other  K-­‐12  Educators:Dr.  Brent  Clark,  IASA;  Dr.  Carmen  Ayala,  Berwyn  North  SD  98;  Dr.  Christine  Benson,  Retired  Superintendent;  Dr.  Jennifer  Garrison,  Vandalia  CUSD  203;  Dr.  Kevin  O’Mara,  Retired  Superintendent;  Gloria  Trejo,  Principal

Governor’s  Office  – Day  One  Issues•Budget  Proposal  and  funding  for  year  three  of  Evidence  Based  Model

•Pensions•$6  Billion  Bill  backlog•Five  vacancies  on  the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Education  (three  of  which  will  be  filled  by  educators).

ISBE  – Transition  Ahead?•5  Vacancies  on  the  Board  coming  open  in  January•Dr.  Tony  Smith’s  contract  expires  in  January• Possible  scenarios:• Contract  renewal• New  superintendent,  but  same  staff• New  superintendent,  new  staff

•Lots  of  special  education  issues  in  2019• IDEA  Flow  Through  change• CPS  Oversight  and  continued  issues• Educator  shortages• ESSA  Year  Two  – Changes?• Part  401  Rules?• Updated  rules  related  to  medication  distribution?

The  Legislature  –Illinois  House  of  Representatives  

•Democrats  maintained  control  of  the  House  of  Representatives• Increased  majority  and  now  hold  a  veto  proof,  super  majority  of  74  members

•Republicans  hold  44  seats  – smallest  number  of  Republicans  in  the  House  in  Illinois  history

•Both  parties  have  held  internal  meetings  and  have  re-­‐elected  their  leaders:• Mike  Madigan  (D-­‐Chicago)  will  continue  as  Speaker  of  the  House  (longest  serving  speaker  in  United  States  History)• Jim  Durkin  (R-­‐Western  Springs)  will  continue  as  Republican  Leader

•Neither  party  has  named  leadership  teams  as  of  yet

The  Legislature  –Illinois  House  of  Representatives  

Fred  CrespoHoffman  Estates

Elementary  &  Secondary  Education:  School  Curriculum  &  Policies  Committee

Rita  MayfieldNorth  Chicago

Elementary  &  Secondary  Education:  Licensing  &  Oversight  

Committee

Will  DavisEast  Hazel  Crest

Appropriations-­‐Elementary  &  

Secondary  Education  Committee

Deb  ConroyVilla  Park

Mental  Health  Committee

The  Legislature  – Illinois  State  Senate•Democrats  maintained  control  of  the  Senate• Increased  majority  and  now  hold  a  veto  proof,  super  majority  of  40  members  (had  been  37)

•Republicans  hold  19  seats•Both  parties  have  held  internal  meetings  and  have  re-­‐elected  their  leaders:• John  Cullerton  (D-­‐Chicago)  will  continue  as  President  of  the  Senate• Bill  Brady  (R-­‐Bloomington)  will  continue  as  Republican  Leader

•Neither  party  has  named  leadership  teams  as  of  yet

The  Legislature  –Illinois  State  Senate

Jennifer  Bertino-­‐Tarrant

Plainfield

Education  Committee

Andy  Manar

Bunker  Hill

Appropriations  II  Committee

Legislative  Goals•Our  legislative  team  has  focused  its  efforts  into  several  areas  for  the  2019  Spring  Legislative  Session•Legislative  Team  is  headed  by  Melissa  Taylor  and  Judy  Hackett•Meets  regularly  while  legislature  is  in  session•Advised  by  Shannon  Miller  Bellini•Representatives  from  every  region  of  the  state•Meets  with  representatives  from  other  groups  (IASA,  IASBO,  IPA,  IASB,  etc.)  to  attempt  to  build  coalitions•Committed  to  fighting  unfunded  mandates  and  those  bills  that  go  further  than  IDEA

Legislative  Goals•Big  Issue  – Funding•Continued  funding  under  the  Evidence  Based  Model•Placement  neutral  funding  for  students  with  disabilities*•Medicaid  Reimbursement  for  Teletherapy

Legislative  Goals•Other  Legislative  Priorities•Cooperative  withdrawal  bill  (held  over  from  this  year)•Educator  shortages•IMRF  and  Cooperative  Retirement  Rules•Changes  to  due  process  section  of  school  code

Questions?