January 23, 2006	Volume 5, Number 3

Burmaster allocates special education aid

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster recently informed school districts that she is setting aside federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) discretionary funding to reimburse Wisconsin schools for services to children with severe disabilities.

“I am again allocating federal discretionary dollars, a total of $1.25 million, to support my Keeping the Promise: High-Cost Special Education Aid program,” Burmaster said. “It is our long-held belief that all children are entitled to a quality education. Some of our students have severe or multiple disabilities that require very specialized equipment and services that can cost three or more times the average expense of educating a student. This aid will help our schools pay for services for these children.”

This is the third year Burmaster has allocated federal discretionary dollars for the Keeping the Promise: High-Cost Special Education Aid program. The aid will reimburse costs incurred during the 2004-05 school year. Burmaster developed the initiative in September, 2003 to compensate for a lack of both federal and state funding for special education services required under federal law. Based on data produced during the first two years of the initiative, school districts demonstrated the need for state support for children with severe disabilities. This lead to inclusion of a high-cost special education aid package in the 2005-07 biennial budget.

“The discretionary federal money I am directing to high-cost special education aid will provide immediate help to school districts that lack sufficient state or federal special education funding to serve their students with disabilities,” Burmaster said.

Eligible costs under the Keeping the Promise program include specific costs related to educating a student with high-cost special education needs. Reimbursement from IDEA flow-through funds, Medicaid, and state special education categorical aids are deducted first. School districts have until February 24 to make claims for costs incurred in the 2004-05 school year. Reimbursement will be made in June. As in past years, the Department of Public Instruction expects the amount of eligible claims will require that reimbursements be prorated.

Last updated on 1/23/2006