Report: Pennsylvania districts shortchanging special ed
February 12th, 2009From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Most Pennsylvania school districts are not spending enough on special education to meet the basic needs of their students, according to a new study commissioned by the Education Law Center, the Disability Rights Network, and the Arc of Pennsylvania.
The study, by a Denver consulting firm, found that about 400 of the state’s 501 school districts are spending about $2,000 less per student than the $18,407 needed for their education.
Among the reasons: Pennsylvania allocates funds based on the assumption that 16 percent of students in each district are enrolled in special education, but the actual percentage may vary widely. Advocates have long sought a change in the funding formula.

