Budget Brief: Special Education Funding
Background:
Both state and federal laws require that local school districts provide
special education and related services for children with exceptional
education needs ages 3 through 21 who reside in the district. The state
reimburses a portion of the costs for educating and transporting pupils
enrolled in special education programs.
Wisconsin law mandates that the state reimburse local school districts
for 63% of the cost to educate children in special education. Although
this statutory requirement exists, the state has not met that commitment
for nearly a decade. The state has frozen special education aids since
1994-95. Special education costs, however, have increased at a rate
of 6.8% annually.
By the end of the 1998-99 school year, the actual state level of reimbursement
for special education costs will drop to an estimated 31%.
1999-2001 Budget (AB 133):
- Governor Thompson’s proposed budget bill continues to freeze
the state reimbursement rate for special education. The budget also
eliminates the state commitment to reimburse school districts for
63% of the cost to provide special education programs.
Joint Finance Committee Action:
- Increase categorical aid for special education by $35 million over
the next two years. In addition, provide $1.5 million to County Children
with Disabilities Education Boards. WEAC supported the JFC votes as
steps in the right direction toward meeting the state's commitment
to fund special education programs.
WEAC Position:
The Wisconsin Education Association Council believes that the state
must act now to stop the freeze on categorical aid and keep its commitment
to fund special education programs. The state should fund special education
categorical aid at a 50% level and become a partner with local school
districts in funding special education.
The Wisconsin Education Association Council also supports allowing
school districts the ability to raise funds outside the revenue caps
to pay their share of costs for special education.
Talking Points:
- Wisconsin school districts are being forced to choose between special
education and regular education programs because of the state’s
failure to keep its commitment to fund special education. These painful
choices cause harm to all students.
- It has been nearly a decade since the state has met the statutorily
required reimbursement rate of 63% for special education costs. The
state has frozen special education aids since 1994-95. This continued
freeze is at a time when special education costs are increasing at
a rate of 6.8% annually.
- Rising costs in special education are beyond the control of school
districts. According to the Department of Public Instruction, the
total number of children in need of specialized education increased
14.7% between 1993 and 1997.
- This alarming trend of reduced funding has only been made worse
by revenue caps. Aids received for special education fall outside
the revenue caps. When the state put a freeze on these aids, it forced
school districts to allocate dollars from general education programs
that fall under the revenue caps to fund mandated special education
programs.
- In actual dollars, since 1993-94, special education costs have
increased $218.1 million. In that same time, state aids have increased
only $14.2 million - a $204 million gap since revenue caps have been
in effect.
- Public schools in Wisconsin face many challenges as children prepare
for the next century. Meeting these challenges will require improvements
in technology, updated textbooks and teaching materials, and rebuilding
schools. Because of state-imposed revenue caps, school districts are
left with no option but to cut into regular education programs to
pay for state and federally mandated programs and services for children
with exceptional education needs. It is time to support the educational
needs of all children and for the state to fund special education
costs at the promised levels.
For Additional Information:
If you have any comments or questions, please contact Bob Burke in
the WEAC Government Relations Division at 800-362- 8034 ext. 254 or
by e-mail at burkeb@weac.org.
Posted April 7, 1999; Updated May 25, 1999.