Leaders at the New Jersey School Boards Association have issued a new report calling for changes to the state’s system of special education. Entitled “Special Education: A Service, Not a Place,” the report calls for greater accountability for outcomes and reduction in costs. It urges general education and special education programs and institutions to work together as one system to provide a continuum of instruction, programs, interventions, and services that respond to individual student needs.
The task force report addresses early intervention, literacy, shared services, changes in state and federal aid, alternative funding, and training of educators and school board members.
As part of an effort to increase funding, the report calls for regional consortia to help districts complete the cumbersome filing process for federal funding under the Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI). Currently, some districts opt not to file for reimbursement because the time and resources required to complete the process outweigh the potential benefit. As a result, the state misses out on roughly $10 million in federal funding.
In addition, the report calls for improved auditing processes to improve accurate reporting of special education expenditures.
Click here to read the report.
