Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in south-central Pennsylvania (US) are achieving savings by withdrawing students from a multi-LEA consortium, according to a story entitled “The great takeback” by Tatiana Zarnowski and Linda Franz. Let’s hope that (a) the students’ unique educational needs are being met in their local schools and (b) the savings are being used well
In five years, the annual price tag of educating an autistic child through Capital Area Intermediate Unit has shot up from $30,307 to $48,500.
Five local school districts — Big Spring, Carlisle, South Middleton, Mechanicsburg and Northern York — that have formed a consortium will circumvent that 60 percent hike next year by hiring a private company to teach its elementary autistic students for $22,000 each. That’s less than half of what Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU) charges.
Skyrocketing CAIU costs for autism and other disabilities have prompted the local school districts — which 10 years ago depended on the intermediate unit for special education — to hire more of their own staffers.
Collectively, the officials for the local schools say the districts have knocked millions of dollars a year off their budgets by educating and transporting special-needs students themselves.
Link to the story by Ms. Zarnowski and Ms. Franz.
Sphere: Related Content
Recent Comments