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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

SDE

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 5 requests the SDE to:

perform a comprehensive study of conditions leading to the wide ranges in staffing ratios for special education related services,

develop criteria for approval of current and additional special education related services personnel, and

provide information that will assist in the development of a fair and equitable funding methodology for these services.

The memorial further requests that findings of the study be reported to the Legislative Education Study Committee by November 1, 2000.

Significant Issues

An independent consultant conducted a study of related services being provided to special needs students and reported that the number of program units generated for these services had increased from 22,481 in school year 1996-97 to 42,650 in school year 1999-2000, an increase of nearly 90 percent. The study also found wide ranges in staffing ratios for the delivery of these services, and the intent of the memorial is to find the causes and propose solutions to concerns raised in the study.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

None at his time.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

None. SDE staff can conduct or contract for the conduct of the study using federal funds if no state funding is available.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

None apparent.

LB/njw