URGENT Call to Action! (1-30-2024)

Talk about short notice...

Here's what I sent:

I know you are discussing SPB 7048 today in committee, and I wish I could have communicated earlier on this matter.

We are a current PEP family and have concerns about this bill. As it currently stands, this bill creates a giant gap in the provision of the education of PEP students. It's clear and understandable that steps must be taken to prevent irresponsible spending, but as it stands it is far too broad in its prohibition on any equipment outside of core subjects.

The arts and physical education have been seen as legitimate areas of study as long as human civilization has existed, and it doesn't make sense that resources for these areas should be restricted so absolutely. There are less restrictive ways of regulating these expenditures that would curb 90% of whatever issue exists without completely cutting off parents' and students' options in these areas. For example, designating an amount (say, $1500) that could be spent on educational equipment outside of core subjects.

Another issue with the law as it stands is that there is no statutory definition of "equipment", so ordinary school supplies or items like desks or bookshelves (or even paints/pencils/binders/notebooks) could also be caught up in it, as there is no way to show that these would just be used for core subjects.

If there is no time to make these modifications this session, I encourage you to support the removal of this restriction altogether and work on a more nuanced solution for the next session.

Thank you for your attention.