NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the state's financial picture continuing to improve, there may be money to fund the state's special education statute to the level actually passed by the legislature.
"We know that the statute is 92% of excess cost," said USD 308 superintendent Mike Folks. "We know that special education numbers and costs continue to increase at a very significant rate, much higher than your general fund. Our numbers are going up. Next year, it's projected that we're going to be somewhere between 72 and 74% funded. We're taking a lot of money out of general fund and subsidizing special education."
Statewide, school districts are having to pay more than $100 million each year above what they should be paying.
"It's kind of just an arbitrary number at this point," Folks said. "What is the significance of that 92%? Let's say it's 85% and then let's fund it according to statute. Right now, they've been appropriating the same amount of money as these numbers continue to increase."
There are more special ed kids in USD 308 than the state average.
"The state average now is about 17.5% identifiable, that includes gifted within those special education numbers," Folks said. "Our numbers in 308 are 25%. We're about 45% above the state average."
A proposal before the legislative break to increase special ed funding back in March initially passed the House, before being rejected on a motion to reconsider.