PUSD Trustee Scott Harden to Host Special Education Forum in Early November

Pasadena Unified School District Board Trustee Scott Harden will host a community forum titled “Special Education: Supporting Every Learner” on Monday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at James Madison Elementary School Auditorium, 515 E. Ashtabula St. in Pasadena. 

The event is scheduled to feature Pasadena Unified School District Special Education Director Ingrid Jaimes and a panel of caregivers and experts. Spanish interpretation and refreshments will be provided. 

Harden said District 4 residents are invited to attend to hear about how special education programs operate, how they’re funded, and how families can find support or advocate for change. Attendees are encouraged to reserve a seat or accept the invitation at hardenforpusd.com/forum. 

“One of the things I care about as a Pasadena Unified School District Board member is how we serve all our students, especially those with special needs,” Harden wrote in the invitation. 

In prior presentations, Harden has outlined what he calls “Special Education Funding Challenges,” pointing to the AB 602 funding model, which allocates resources based on total student enrollment within a Special Education Local Plan Area, rather than the number of students with disabilities. 

He noted that while California has taken steps toward funding equity—raising the statewide base rate and increasing support for students with disabilities—only two Special Education Local Plan Areas currently receive a local funding rate higher than the statewide AB 602 base rate as of 2022–23. Between 2019–20 and 2022–23, the state increased funding for students with disabilities by more than 60 percent, significantly boosted support for students with low-incidence disabilities, and provided additional reimbursement for high-cost special education placements. 

Despite these improvements, Harden said local general fund dollars have been covering an increasing share of special education costs. He also pointed out that the percentage of students identified for special education services has risen from around 11 percent to nearly 14 percent of the total student population, with a notable increase in students with high-cost needs such as autism. 

The event is open to the public.