School Boards across Wisconsin Passing Resolutions to Increase Special Education Reimbursement Rate to 90%
School boards across the state are passing resolutions to increase the reimbursement rate to 90% for special needs students, matching the reimbursement rate given to private schools under the legislated Special Needs Scholarship Program.
The federal government has stated a commitment to fund 40% of the costs of supporting students with special needs, but funds only 15%. In addition, Wisconsin had statutory language to fund over 60% of costs related to these students, but now funds merely 26%. The state of Wisconsin has not increased funding in public school special education categorical aid for over a decade.
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau concluded that because of historic under funding of the state and federal government, public school districts must now fund over $1 billion to cover the educational costs associated with implementing Individualized Education Programs for students with special needs. As a result of under funding these critical services for students with special needs, public schools districts across Wisconsin transfer funds from their general fund to make up the gap.
SWSA is collecting resolutions from all over the state (including many in our own membership) and storing them in a google drive. Click on the link to see who has passed these resolutions and please feel free to use the resolution language for your district.
Special Education Reimbursement Rate Increase Resolutions
Please click on the link below to view a map that can inform you as to the positive fiscal impact of this increase on your own district.