CCAC backs county and state budget advocacy; directors outline staffing and program changes

The Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee approved minutes, affirmed new members and voted to ask local and state leaders to protect funding for special education services.

At the meeting the committee voted to approve the November 25, 2024 minutes with 16 votes in favor and one abstention (Patty). The committee also approved two advocacy items: a letter to the county executive requesting $20,000,000 above the maintenance‑of‑effort level to support the superintendent’s proposed budget, and a separate letter urging state officials to protect Low‑Intensity Support (LIS) and related disability funding in the governor’s FY26 budget proposal. Both advocacy motions passed by voice vote with no recorded oppositions or abstentions reported in the transcript.

Why it matters: Committee leaders noted the county budget process and the state budget debate both have direct effects on staffing and program availability for students with disabilities in Frederick County. Committee members and community advocates emphasized that cuts to LIS or other disability‑support funding would affect individuals on waiting lists and people already receiving services.

Key staffing and program updates from FCPS directors: - Staffing: Directors said the district is requesting five additional special education positions for next year to support students in comprehensive schools and specialized programs. Allocation decisions will use caseload targets the district described as approximately 10–15 students per special education case manager in elementary and 15–20 in secondary schools. - Programs: FCPS will request three additional elementary Expressions classrooms and an additional “Learning for Life” (Whittier) classroom in the superintendent’s budget; directors cited rising costs and enrollment needs. Public comment and director remarks also outlined that the Shepherd Pratt RISE partnership will end after the current year; nine students currently attend that partnership program and their future placements will be decided by individual IEP teams (options include returning to home schools, placement in FCPS Whittier classrooms, nonpublic placements, or middle‑school placements where appropriate). - Parent resources: FCPS released a parent inclusionary guidebook posted on the FCPS website, and staff said the district plans communications and board presentations to explain continuum‑of‑service options.

Public comment and community concerns: A parent speaker thanked CCAC for earlier support on the Remote Virtual Program (RVP) and urged continued advocacy as the system finalizes the superintendent’s budget and application deadlines for virtual programs approach. Multiple community speakers and advocacy organizations urged members to press state and county officials to protect LIS and other disability supports that serve people waiting for DDA services.

Votes and formal actions (at a glance): The meeting recorded at least three formal votes: approval of minutes (approved, 16 yes, 1 abstain), approval of a CCAC letter to the county executive requesting $20,000,000 above maintenance of effort (approved), and approval of a CCAC letter urging state leaders to preserve LIS and related funding in the FY26 state budget (approved). The transcript did not record roll‑call vote names for the two advocacy letters; outcomes were passed by the full membership present.

Directions and next steps: Directors will continue to refine staffing allocations as county and state budget decisions unfold, and the district said it will present the new FCPS Whittier classroom plan and pilot program details to the Board of Education in March. CCAC leadership said it will circulate templates and contact information for advocacy so members and families can contact state delegates and the governor’s office. The committee scheduled its next meeting for February 24 at the Board of Education building.

Ending: The committee closed with event planning reminders for the March 29 resource fair and upcoming parent and student activities, and with a request that members help distribute advocacy materials about budget risks to local families.