The Politics of Special Education Finance Reform in Three States. State Analysis Series.

This paper examines the politics of special education finance reform in three states (Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Vermont) that have enacted substantial legislative change within the past 5 years. These case studies were extracted from presentations made by the three state directors of special education at a 1994 conference. Each case study includes two sections. The first section provides a brief description of the history and rationale for change in each state and an overview of the current formula. The second section comprises each state director's description of how change was accomplished and the lessons learned that pertain to the politics of special education finance reform. Following the three state profiles is a series of questions accompanied by the directors' replies. Several common elements for successful reform emerge from the three studies. These include: (1) the importance of timing in overcoming contrary pressures and successfully implementing special education finance reform; (2) the importance of public relations in successfully legislating reform; (3) the need for an understanding and resolution of the politics of the situation; and (4) the need for postreform evaluative data. (Contains 15 references.) (DB)