SPRINGFIELD – Funding for special education students will be more equitable under a new law sponsored by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel that creates a fair reimbursement rate for special education day schools.

“Since joining the General Assembly, I have worked to ensure all special education students receive a quality education in the least restrictive environment,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “With this law, all special education day schools will see equitable funding opportunities, no matter the student’s placement.”

Senate Bill 3606 equalizes the reimbursement rate received by public school districts from the Illinois State Board of Education when sending high-needs special education students to private and public special education day schools.

Under Loughran Cappel’s law, public schools are now eligible to receive a reimbursement, regardless of where the student is sent, from ISBE for tuition costs for high-needs special education students that exceed the average cost for students not receiving special education services.

“The passage of Senate Bill 3606 is the culmination of decades of advocacy by the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education for placement-neutral special education funding in the state of Illinois,” said IAASE Executive Director Melissa Taylor. “This law will provide school districts the same level of state funding regardless of whether a student is recommended for a public or private therapeutic special education school. Senator Loughran Cappel’s experience as a special education teacher makes her keenly aware of the inequity in the current funding system.”

Senate Bill 3606 was signed into law Monday and takes effect immediately.