Special Education Review saves money while improving operations
Published: March 1, 2010
Since special education services are expensive, local educational agencies facing record budget deficits cannot afford to overlook any opportunities for savings. That’s especially true if the program is not in line with the district’s core values.
The Special Education Review service from CSBA and School Innovations & Advocacy, Inc. can help LEAs find ways to use existing resources more efficiently while maintaining the integrity of their special education services to students.
Here’s how it works: A team of SI&A consultants works with the district’s business officials and special education personnel to analyze operations and then makes recommendations that are aligned with the district’s core values. The objective is to identify service delivery options that may be expanded or modified to realize savings—which can then be reinvested to enhance special education programs.
By implementing the recommendations from the reviews, LEAs typically save $50 to $100 per student, according to SI&A estimates.
“We had the opportunity to implement some of SI&A’s recommendations in the current 07/08 school year and for the 08/09 budget year,” according to a testimonial posted on SI&A’s Web site from the El Monte City School District. “This allowed us to reduce our Special Education program costs by about $1.1 million in the budget year.”
Savings may be found in a number of areas once policies, procedures and practices are reviewed, consultants say. Sometimes, for example, services may be more restrictive than students actually need, making it difficult and more costly to give the students the appropriate assistance and return them to the classroom. Other recommendations may be to make more efficient use of personnel through appropriate assignments and tighter hiring practices. Sharing facilities or changing reimbursement practices and the use of contractors may also result in more efficient programs—all while improving service to students.
Some LEAs may wish to have help after the review is complete, notes Lexi Carolan, special education review product manager with SI&A, and there again the program stands ready to serve.
“Often, districts are given the tools without any direction,” she said. “Our program provides actionable recommendations that help realize savings quickly.”
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