Volume I, No. 12

February 5, 2009

Local Fiscal Relief from Special Education Funding

By David Walrath -- dwalrath@m-w-h.com

Both the House of Representatives and the United States Senate stimulus bills include $13 billion for increased funding of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B funding.  Neither bill changes current federal statute that allows school districts to reduce their local contribution by 50% of any new federal funds. 

While a stimulus package has not yet been enacted, school districts should start reviewing the use of new federal special education funds to reduce current school district local contributions for special education programs. The House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee display of special education allocations to California school districts is not perfect, but it should provide a basis for initial planning.