SB 852

This bill changes the rate at which the state reimburses school boards, operators of independent charter schools, cooperative educational service agencies (CESAs), and county children with disabilities education boards (CCDEBs) for costs incurred to provide special education and related services to children with disabilities and for school age parents programs (eligible costs). Under current law, the state reimburses the full cost of special education for children in hospitals and convalescent homes for orthopedically disabled children. After those costs are paid, the state reimburses remaining eligible costs from the amount remaining in the appropriation account at a rate that distributes the full amount appropriated. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates the reimbursement rate will be 42 percent in the 2025-26 school year and 45 percent in the 2026-27 school year.

The bill changes the appropriation to a sum sufficient and provides that, in the 2025-26 school year, after full payment of hospital and convalescent home costs, the remaining costs are reimbursed at 42 percent of eligible costs, and in the 2026-27 school year and each school year thereafter, after full payment of hospital and convalescent home costs, the remaining costs are reimbursed at 45 percent of eligible costs.

Currently, DPI provides 1) special education aid to school districts, independent charter schools, CESAs, and CCDEBs; 2) aid to school districts, CESAs, and CCDEBs for providing physical or mental health treatment services to private school and tribal school pupils; and 3) aid for school age parents programs to school districts only.