Hardin County Schools special education staff reported a rise in students served and outlined funding and program priorities during a departmental update to the Hardin County Board of Education.

Jessica, a district special education representative, told the board that the district’s December 1 child count reached 2,843 students, an increase of 101 from the previous year. She said the district supports 177 special education teachers (eight vacancies) and 24 speech-language pathologists plus one speech therapy assistant, and that 59 of the special education teachers have fewer than three years’ experience.

The presentation detailed the district’s funding mix. The district’s IDEA allocation for the past year was about $3,700,000; Jessica said roughly 94% of that amount pays payroll for specialists, interpreters and many instructional assistants. She said district general fund spending for special education was about $14.5 million for certified personnel and related services. The district also reported a WHAS Crusade grant award of $27,000 this year and said ARP (American Rescue Plan) funds paid for accessible playground equipment at multiple elementary schools, including a full accessible playground at Cecilia Valley.

Jessica described program changes and staffing that support classrooms: each school now has a school psychologist at least one full day per week and a special education consultant at least every other week; the district added an autism behavior specialist this year; and the district is adding three low-incidence classrooms next year to respond to growth in that population. She said the autism “pass” classroom is showing progress toward greater independence for students with higher needs.

On transitions and post‑secondary outcomes, the district said it hired employment specialists in each high school who work with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and focus on career exploration, workplace skills, job shadowing and internships. Jessica said the district’s follow-up reporting shows 82.8% of its 2022 graduates with disabilities were enrolled in higher education or training or had some employment, compared with a Kentucky average of 72.1%.

Jessica said the district received a KDE transition grant of $75,000 over two years (total $150,000) to develop entrepreneurship pathways accessible to students with disabilities; the district has launched a business pathway at John Hardin and is exploring agricultural entrepreneurship options.

She summarized department capacity: 35 total special education staff districtwide and increased demand across several eligibility categories, notably speech-language impairment, autism, emotional/behavioral disabilities and other health impairments. Jessica also said the department is working to increase parent participation in required surveys; she reported that of the 127 parents who returned last year’s KDE parent survey, 92% said the school involved them meaningfully and 72.73% of parents of students age 14+ said the school helped prepare their children for post‑school employment (state average cited was 17.43%).

Board members asked questions about program growth, funding sources and how consultants are deployed to support less‑experienced teachers. A board member praised the placement of consultants in schools, saying principals cited that change as one of the year’s most effective actions.

Jessica closed by stressing expectations for students with disabilities and the department’s belief that “all students do have words and they need their dignity protected,” and by thanking community partners who provide work and instructional opportunities.

The board received the report; no vote or formal action was recorded on the special education update.