Special education, even with fed stimulus money, still underfunded, says expert
Minnesota Department of Education officials are still learning more about the recently enacted federal economic stimulus package that could bring about $1 billion in one-time funding to Minnesota schools.
Division of Program Finance Director Tom Melcher, appearing before a House education committee this week, indicated that it may be some weeks before the department has a breakdown of the federal funding to the school district level.
Melcher pointed out that one reported aspect of the funding — that the influx of special education dollars will actually have the feds funding special education at the promised 40 percent level — isn’t borne out by the numbers.
Currently, the feds fund special education at about 15 percent, Melcher explained. Even with the wash of new funding coming in, the percentage of special education funding will only rise to 24 percent, he said.
One concern lawmakers expressed about the stimulus education dollars was that they would be used as ongoing dollars when in fact they’ll disappear in a couple of years.
Hi Tim, I assume you are the child of Pat and Steve. I am a friend, and former college roommate, of your mother. One of our other friends, Donna, was commenting that we haven’t heard from her for a long time. I am hoping she is healthy and that you will let me know.
Sincerely, Pat Allegar