Transcript Pottstown School District Special Education 2008-2009

Pottstown School District
Special Education
2008-2009
STATISTICS,
LEGAL MANDATES,
AND FUNDING
ISSUES
Findings of 2007 Study –
from Report of February 2009
Between 2002 and 2007,
special education enrollment
[in Pennsylvania] has
increased by more than
25,000 students.
Findings of 2007 Study –
from Report of February 2009
 Providing a basic quality education for special
education students costs, on average, 2.3 times as
much as educating students without special needs.
 391 PA districts have inadequate funding for special
education - $1 million shortfall per year per district
(about $2,000 per student.)
 Underfunding special education impacts the
education of all students and the wider community.
Overview
 Special Education Report (State Plan)
 Compliance Monitoring
 Pottstown statistics and trends
 Reasons for additional staffing
 Reasons that special education costs more
 Recommendations
Special Education Report for PDE
 Current program strengths and highlights
 Identification of students with LD
 Exiting statistics
 Ensuring maximum integration
 Supplementary aids and services
 Proficiency in reading and math
 Behavior support services
 Training and personnel development
 Program profile
Cyclical Compliance Monitoring/
Facilitated Self-Assessment: 23 Topic Areas
1.
Assistive Technology
2.
Positive Behavior Support
3.
Childfind
4.
Confidentiality
5.
Dispute Resolution
6.
Graduation rates
7.
Drop-out Rates
8.
Suspensions & Expulsions
Cyclical Compliance Monitoring:
Facilitated Self-Assessment - continued
9.
Facilities report
10.
Independent Educational Evaluations
11.
Least Restrictive Environment
12.
Extended school year
13.
Related services
14.
Caseload & age range
15.
Parent training
16.
Participation in PSSA & PASA
Cyclical Compliance Monitoring:
Facilitated Self-Assessment - continued
17.
Public school enrollment
18.
Surrogate parent system
19.
Personnel training
20.
Intensive interagency (Cordero cases)
21.
Summary of Academic Achievement &
Functional Performance
22.
Disproportionate representation
23.
Student record reviews
Trends: Students & Staffing
K-12
District
Totals
1996-97
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Students
314
443
487
507
Teachers
26
40
47
49
Assistants
24
72
78
79
Related
Services
3
10
13
13
Current Special Education Numbers
o Elementary
230 students / 23 teachers / 38 assistants
o Middle School
129 students / 12 teachers / 18 assistants
o High School
148 students / 14 teachers / 21 assistants
Totals: 507 Students / 49 Teachers /
79 Assistants
Reasons for additional staffing
MORE PROGRAMS
Life Skills Student: IU class
$32,000 tuition + related services +
transportation = @ $60,000
Life Skills Student: In-district =
$ 15,412
35 students = savings of $1,560,580
Reasons for additional staffing
MORE PROGRAMS
Autism Support Student: IU class
$40,000 tuition + related services +
transportation
= @ $72,000
Autism Support Student: In-district
= $ 25,305
15 students = savings of $700,425
Reasons for additional staffing
MORE STUDENTS
 Early Intervention
 Students moving into Pottstown
 Students being returned to District
placements
Reasons for additional staffing
MORE NEEDS
 Significant disabilities
 Behavioral & emotional support
 Inclusion
 Case management and LEA
representation
Reasons that special education costs more









Time
Equipment & technology
Personnel
Placements outside the district
Training
Mental health issues
Inclusionary programming
Meeting federal & state regulatory requirements
Potential for litigation and due process
From Costing-Out Study/Report 2009
Excerpt from PSBA Bulletin, Feb.2009
Special Legal Liability Note: Each child with a disability,
as defined in the IDEA, is entitled to a free appropriate
public education. If the school district fails or refuses to
provide FAPE to any student so entitled, there will be
legal liability, leading to such things as compensatory
education, litigation costs, the administrative burdens of
litigation and attorneys’ fees and court costs. These costs
can be expensive, easily exceeding $100,000. Legal
liability insurance does not cover all of the costs or even
a substantial portion of the costs. The best way of
avoiding legal liability and the costs of
litigation is to ensure that all students are
provided with FAPE and that the school district
has the tools available to prove that FAPE is
being offered.
Special Education Costs per Student
 Base cost for student without special needs: $8,000
 Factoring in other considerations, costing out
estimate per pupil: $11,469 (additional for special
education)
 Pottstown spends less than most other districts in
Montgomery county, when comparing these
additional costs $12,933 (Range = $10,00019,000)
From Costing-Out Study/Report 2009
Reductions in Special Education Costs
in Pottstown
 New programs
 Increased capacity for
behavior/emotional support
 Inclusion
 Decreased evaluations and
identifications
 Exiting students from special education
Impact of RTI on rate of identification
2006-07
2007-08
105 students found eligible
107 students found eligible
2008-09
73 students found eligible
34 X $13,000 = $442,000.00
Resources make a difference
Half of all special education
students in the wealthiest districts
meet standards in reading and
math, while only ¼ of these
students meet standards in the
poorest districts.
From Costing-Out Study/Report 2009
Recommended Strategies
From Costing-Out Study/Report 2009
Teacher preparation – All teachers should be
prepared to meet needs of diverse learners.
Recommended Strategies
From Costing-Out Study/Report 2009
Additional staff to support inclusion,
communication, specialized service delivery, and
post-secondary transition.
Recommended Strategies
From Costing-Out Study/Report 2009
Additional teachers – regular and special education
– to reduce class sizes.
Recommended Strategies
From Costing-Out Study/Report 2009
On-site training capacity – use of instructional
coaches and disability-specific experts.
Recommended Strategies
From Costing-Out Study/Report 2009
Increase availability in
school buildings of
administrators with
expertise in special
education law.
Goals of Funding & Budgeting
 Allow for delivery of what the law requires
 Improve early intervening programming
 Effective instruction for students to move
out of special education
 Reduce drop-out rates
 Reduce staff turn-over
 Reduce long-term costs
Sources of Information
 Special Education Report (State Plan) Sept. 2008
 Compliance Monitoring/FSA, March 2009
 Costing-Out Resources Report, February 2009
 PSBA Bulletin, February 2009
 MCIU Cost Plan 2008-2009
 Penn Data Report, December 2006/2007/2008
Conclusion
 District is required to fund special education to
ensure FAPE and meet legally mandated
requirements.
 Upfront spending and investment in special
education, in order to provide an
appropriate and adequate education,
results in outcomes that benefit the entire
District and community – in many
important ways, including financial.
Thank you!