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Lawmakers press administration on special‑education circuit breaker costs and transportation reimbursements
Summary
Committee members told administration witnesses that special‑education costs and inaccurate projections have strained district budgets; administration said FY 2026 funds would raise transportation reimbursement toward the Student Opportunity Act intent and directed local questions to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Members of the House side of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means pressed administration witnesses on March 5 about rapid growth in special‑education (SPED) costs and the adequacy of state reimbursements.
Representative Ferrante and others said districts and municipal leaders have told them that the ‘circuit breaker’ for high-cost special education placements has grown faster than DESE estimates and that transportation-related reimbursements are a major driver of the increase.
The administration said House 1 includes about…
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