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Vermont districts create in-district therapeutic programs to curb special-education costs
Summary
At a May 15 House Education hearing, Mount Mansfield Unified and Essex Westford described district-run therapeutic programs they say lower costs, keep students connected to community and reduce reliance on high-cost out-of-district placements, while raising questions about transportation, staffing and state funding incentives.
MONTPELIER — On May 15, 2025, the Vermont House Committee on Education heard from two school districts that have created in-district therapeutic programs to address shrinking access to outside therapeutic placements and rapidly rising special-education costs.
Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District and Essex Westford School District told the committee their programs have allowed some students to remain in their home communities while producing substantial per-student savings compared with expensive out-of-district tuition placements.
District leaders said the programs also pose practical challenges — chiefly staffing, space and transportation — and raised concerns about how Vermont’s current funding incentives for extraordinary special-education costs can affect district decisions.
Nicole Fortier, director of finance and operations for the Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District, described two in-district programs. Team Evolve, at Browns River Middle School, serves about 10 students and is staffed by two licensed teachers and two paraprofessionals. Fortier said the program cost about $25,000 per student in fiscal 2025.
Fortier said Mount Mansfield launched an…
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