September 25, 2009 in City

Special education squeezes district

More students with more needs enrolling in Spokane schools

• Print
• Email
• Share

Lewis and Clark High School special-education teacher Jill Nowak helps students with a life-skills exercise Thursday.
(Full-size photo) (All photos)

Spokane Public Schools is serving more special-education students than ever this year – nearly 500 more than the state will pay for, putting a strain on the financially struggling district.

Officials at the district, which is the state’s second-largest, say families with high-needs children are moving to Spokane from smaller communities, and sometimes from Western Washington, because it’s a hub for services and opportunities but avoids many problems of major metropolitan areas.

“We have the largest medical facility between here and Minneapolis,” said Mike Ainsworth, executive director of the district’s special-education program. “The social services are here, entry-level jobs are here.”

The state caps funding for the number of special-education students at 12.7 percent of a district’s student population. Spokane Public Schools enrolls more than 28,000 students, so funding is capped at about 3,500 special-education students.

Currently, the district’s special-ed enrollment has exceeded that number by nearly 500, and it’s continuing to grow, school officials said. Nearly 100 additional students have enrolled since the school year began.

To pay for those students, the district has to dig deeper into its pockets – coming up with $2.2 million, school officials said.

“But it’s not just the numbers,” Ainsworth said. “It’s the needs that those children bring with them that really impact the school district. We are getting a lot of kids moving into the district with lots and lots of needs.”

Spokane Public Schools has 1,184 slots for kids who need more intensive care and services than a typical special-ed student. “As of today, 916 of those slots are filled, or more than 77 percent,” Ainsworth said. “Usually right now that would be about 50 percent.”

Districts receive $9,639 per special-education student compared with $4,992 for those in general education. But officials say that figure doesn’t cover the true cost of educating special-needs students.

Special-ed enrollment in the Central Valley School District is up slightly, although the district hasn’t exceeded the state-funded cap, said Jacque Johnson, director of special services. So far, there are 27 more students this year than last year.

“We’ve had more move into the district than move out,” Johnson said. “Last year, was the first year we didn’t have a decrease.”

The Coeur d’Alene School District has remained stable for several years, with between 940 and 970 special-education students annually, officials said.

Spokane school officials are frustrated with funding for special education.

“When the state has placed the cap on funding, it puts the responsibility back on the district,” Ainsworth said. “The district is involved with a lawsuit regarding funding for that very reason.”

Several school districts are suing the state to fund special-education mandates. The case is expected to be heard by the Washington Supreme Court early next year.

“The federal government has also fallen short,” Ainsworth said. Tacoma and Seattle school districts are right at or slightly over the state funding level, based on data from Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Three comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  benks14 on September 25 at 1:20 a.m.

  A friend of mine purchased <A href=”http://www.newstylerolex.com/” title=”Brand Name Watches”>Replica Watches</A>.The appearance of the watch is so nice that i also want to own it! We together lodged in the web http://www.newstylerolex.com and chose an attractive <A href=”http://www.newstylerolex.com/” title=”Watches”>women watches</a>.It feels so good that i always wear it on my hand.By now i have worn it for three months and have not found any problem.No wonder the quality is favorable. I believe it and will introduce it to more people!

• 

  barry51 on September 25 at 4:34 a.m.

  FREE WRITING/THINKING PROGRAM
  Special Services Education to BA and Business

  www.TheEasyEssay.com is a free program that is being used from Special Services Education (including ADHD, dyslexia and mainstreaming) to college
  education, FCAT, SAT, ACT test preparation, home schooling, and educational rehabilitation, as well as in business for concise, organized and targeted memos, speeches, reports, and recommendations.
  A noted side effect of the program is that users begin to communicate logically.
  “I have used this technique with my corporate clients, my theology students, and soon with my students at Kaplan University.”
  Dr. Kathleen A. Bishop, M.B.A., PhD, ThD.

  “I got feedback from the teachers. They love it and we are looking at using it with some of our AT devices.”
  Dr. Suzanne Pope Dobson - Calhoun High School (Special Education Department Head)

  “The Easy Essay was very helpful… I [also] have twin 15 year old twins. They are in a college prep school… I am glad this tool is available.”
  Brain Injury Association of Minnesota
  ~ Janice Webster | Resource Facilitator / Peer Mentor Specialist

• 

  PlanB on September 25 at 7:45 a.m.

  What would be even better if Ainsworth would focus on education rather than empire building. I believe the number of kids in need of special education services has been exaggerated. I asked Mike where he got that data that showed kids where moving into the district to get S.E. services, and he had no such data (at least that he would share.) A year or so before the district started the lawsuit against the state, the number of kids with IEP's jumped by over 10% which is highly suspicious.