IDOE Cuts to Special Education Funding
from Pat Howey at Special Education Consulting:
The small part of funding that comes from the federal government has been cut even further. Local school districts will now have to foot the bill for the services listed below. Local school districts that already are struggling to provide adequate services to all students will now have to stretch their budgets even further.
After December 1, 2017, the IDOE will not longer be providing funding for the following services to local schools:
(1) Extended School Year in Day Programs;
(2) ABA services in centers and in schools;
(3) One-on-one services (paraprofessionals and aides) in centers and schools;
(4) Related Services; and,
(5) Transportation.
In addition, a cap on Residential Services and Day Services is being considered.
What we can expect:
Advocating for kiddos in special ed will become more and more difficult. We can expect to have to fight for these services for special education children who need them, even though the IDOE Memo states: "Please remember that funding is not a topic for case conference committee discussion. No decisions about services should be based on whether DOE is able to help schools with funding."
Here is the link to the full memo:
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