Sample support letter for categorical aid

Dear (Legislator's Name),

I am writing to ask for your support of the Governor's 2007-09 biennial budget proposal to increase funding for special education and bilingual-bicultural aid.

When revenue limits started during the 1993-94 school year, the state reimbursed school districts for almost 45% of costs related to special education. With the Governor's proposed increase for special education, the rate will be an estimated 29% for the 2008-09 school year — a loss of $9.4 million in resources compared to the reimbursement rate when revenue limits began.

The same is true for bilingual-bicultural aid. The Governor's proposal provides enough resources to keep the reimbursement rate at 12%, but when revenue limits started, school districts were reimbursed at 33% of related costs. This loss of $2.2 million in resources compared to the reimbursement rate when revenue limits began.

Combined, the loss of resources is $11.6 million compared to the reimbursement rate when revenue limits began. If the reimbursement rate was the same, the district would not have had to cut $10.5 million from its cost-to-continue budget for the 2007-08 school year.

(Personal anecdote of English Language Learners/children in special education in your child's classroom and your observations on the extra assistance these children need to be successful learners.)

Please support the Governor's proposed increases for categorical aid and work to restore reimbursement levels to the same percentage that they were when revenue limits started 14 years ago.

Sincerely,