Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go has filed Senate Bill 1785, aiming to modernize the use of the Special Education Fund (SEF) by allowing local governments to use the money for teacher salaries and alternative learning programs, according to an official statement.

The bill proposes amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991, which Go said has been too restrictive in defining the SEF’s allowable uses. The fund, generated from an additional 1 percent tax on real property, is currently limited to specific purposes such as the construction of school buildings, facilities repair, and sports development.

Go emphasized that the current legal framework for the SEF does not align with evolving educational needs. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government temporarily allowed the fund to cover expenses like self-learning modules and digital storage, but Go argued that a permanent legislative fix is necessary to ensure long-term flexibility.

‘The pandemic underscored the urgent need to adapt and modernize our education system,’ Go said in an explanatory note accompanying the bill. ‘Yet, the restrictive provisions of the current law hinder the SEF from being fully maximized to meet these challenges.’

The proposed legislation would explicitly authorize local school boards to use the SEF for the payment of salaries, allowances, and benefits for both teaching and non-teaching personnel. It would also allow the fund to be used for educator competency training and the construction of libraries.

Local governments have long sought greater flexibility in managing the SEF, which has been a point of contention in recent years. Critics argue that the current restrictions limit the fund’s potential to address pressing issues in the education sector, such as teacher retention and the integration of technology into classrooms.

The bill now moves to the Senate committee for further deliberation, where it will face scrutiny from education and local government experts. If passed, it would mark a significant shift in how the SEF is used across the country.