Shared Visions Pre-School at Hiawatha Elementary

The first class we visited at Hiawatha Elementary was of Carol Erickson's. Carol leads a classroom of special needs pre-schoolers that are state funded under the "Shared Visions" program allocation. As with any state funding, Carol's concern is for continued funding for future years.

Carol asked specifically what ISEA's position was on continuation of funding. Here is the response Team ISEA Lobbyist Brad Hudson wrote to Carol: "We are registered as monitoring on the education appropriations bill H.F. 2527 which as passed out of the Full Appropriations committee would restore the standing appropriation to its full amount just over $12.0 million. We believe that in the standings bill (usually acted on in last couple weeks of the session) the current reduction to the standing appropriation for shared visions will be continued and that the appropriation will remain the same.

The ISEA supports moving funding from the empowerment board appropriation to shared visions appropriation and we will continue to work to that end. In addition to shared visions the ISEA supports increasing pre school funding for 5 years olds if the program is funded through the school finance formula and service is provided by licensed professionals employed by public school districts."

Thank you Carol for your question and thanks to Brad Hudson for all the work he does on behalf of Team ISEA every day at the state Capitol.