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Controlling Special Ed Costs Kathy Espinoza , Keenan & Associates

Controlling Special Ed Costs Kathy Espinoza , Keenan & Associates Caryl J. Miller , Ed.D, CA Special Ed Services Barry Blade , Ed.D, Keenan & Associates Wednesday, September 19, 2012 4:15 – 5:30 pm. Special Education in a Business World!. B F C is a B D. The Environment

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Controlling Special Ed Costs Kathy Espinoza , Keenan & Associates

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  1. Controlling Special Ed Costs Kathy Espinoza, Keenan & Associates Caryl J. Miller, Ed.D, CA Special Ed Services Barry Blade, Ed.D, Keenan & Associates Wednesday, September 19, 2012 4:15 – 5:30 pm

  2. Special Education in a Business World!

  3. B F Cis aB D

  4. The Environment through the looking glass and into the perfect storm Proposition 98 On-Going economic slump On-Going failure of the Federal Government Fantastic increase in the # of special education students $$

  5. Get Ahead of Special Ed Spending

  6. A Budget in Trouble Encroachment (Total Incurred- Includes Program and Transportation) 2006: Cost of Encroachment Just under $500/ K-12 ADA 2011 - Cost of Encroachment Just under $750/ K-12 ADA $4.4 Billion

  7. A Budget in Trouble Issues That Impact a District’s Special Ed Budget • WC – Staff Safety • Legal Aspects of Special Ed • Fiscal Cost Drivers 2011 - Cost of Encroachment $4.4 Billion

  8. Special Ed workers’ comp claims are out of proportion with exposure Total Workers’ Comp Claims: Special Ed v. District Average Cost of Special Ed Workers’ Comp Claims $10,309 Keenan PIPS, 2008-2012 $9 Billion Payroll 417 Member districts Special Ed has a large percentage of WC claims in the District

  9. Special Ed claims continue to rise $9.8 M $10.2 M -Keenan PIPS, August 5, 2012

  10. When It Rains… It Pours!

  11. Keeping Special Ed Staff SAFE • Training of Staff • TIME is biggest concern for training • Furlough days, Classroom staff coverage issues • Be Creative: • Online Training • Monitoring • Make training part of the evaluation process • Tie course completions into salary schedule

  12. Expect resistance at first to your good intentions

  13. Legal Issues Drive Costs • Highly Regulated • IDEA and 504 compliance • Parent Advocacy Groups • IEP Compliance • Due Process • Claims are Costly • Average Cost to ‘Defend’ Claim: • $60,000 SELPA (Special Ed Local Plan Area), 2011

  14. Funding: ADA and Revenue Limit ADA FUNDING Districts are receiving only 78 cents of each dollar that the State owes them Special Ed enrollment continues to INCREASE

  15. Student ID Rates Continue to Rise • Identification (ID) Rates • State average is 11.04% (Special Ed Pupils to Total K-12 Enrollment) • What is your District’s Spec Ed ID Rate? • In a district of 10,000 ADA, • if just 1% over state average: • 2 additional teachers • 2 additional aides • Portion of: • Psychologist • Speech Therapist

  16. Fiscal Cost Drivers • Fiscal Opportunities • Staffing • Identification Rates & Intensity of Needs • Outsourcing

  17. a Special Ed Director

  18. Fiscal Cost Drivers • Fiscal Opportunities • Where’s the Beef? • Federal, State, and Local Revenue • Less Revenue – More Spending • Compare Prior Year Expenses to Identify Red Flags • Untapped Resources • Find Other Revenue Sources • Offset Excess Costs with Supplemental Funds • Charge Spec Ed Expenses Correctly

  19. Fiscal Cost Drivers • Staffing • State & Industrial Standards • Class Sizes and/or Staffing Ratios - tooLOW • Class Size Variances in Similar Sized Schools • Yearly Staffing Projections • Based on Pupil Count and Disability Factors • Intervention Process Prior to Adding Staff • Primary versus Related Services/Support • Streamline Staff and Create Combinations

  20. Fiscal Cost Drivers • Identification Rates (ID) & Intensity of Needs • Total Enrollment Declines, while Spec Ed Grows • Multi-year Growth/Decline Comparisons • Disability Group Comparisons by State Averages • Over-identification of Specific Disabilities • Higher Cost Factor for Some Disability Groups • Aides, Aides, and More Instructional Aides

  21. Fiscal Cost Drivers • Outsourcing • Nonpublic School (NPS) Costs • NPS Rates = $130 to $180+ per day NOT including related services and transportation • Nonpublic Agency (NPA) Costs • NPA Contract Rates = $70 to $150 per hour • Build Capacity and Grow Your Own Specialists • Contracting with Other Educational Agencies • Too many students served by outside agencies (over 5%) • Program Transfers May Save Money

  22. Strategize and Make the Right Moves

  23. Innovative Solutions. Enduring Principles. License No. 0451271 Controlling Costs in Special Ed • Tools • Know statewide averages and benchmarks • Compare yourself to comparable districts • Take steps to control Special Ed COSTS • WC, Staffing, ID rates, Intensity of Needs, Outsourcing • Improve dialog • Business Office and Special Education • Reduce costs and maintain service level • Realize the cost of complacency

  24. Innovative Solutions. Enduring Principles. License No. 0451271 Questions? Kathy Espinoza, Keenan & Associates kespinoza@keenan.com Caryl J. Miller, Ed.D, CA Special Ed Services carylm49@verizon.net Barry Blade, Ed.D, Keenan & Associates bblade@keenan.com

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