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Board hears questions on special education funding, nonpublic placements and autism staffing
Summary
At a Jan. 23 PGCPS budget work session, district leaders outlined a proposed $10.3 million increase for special education, explained how nonpublic placements are funded and described a multi‑year plan to add autism specialists and other supports.
Prince George's County Public Schools officials on Jan. 23 described how the district plans to use a proposed $10.3 million increase in special education funding for fiscal 2026 and explained how nonpublic special education placements are financed.
School system leaders told the Board of Education that nonpublic placements receive significant state support and that recent state legislation aimed at pay parity for nonpublic staff has increased district costs.
Chief academic leaders said the Division of Academics prioritized positions that are largely cost neutral by shifting existing resources, and that many new or reclassified positions support special education, instructional support and specialty programs in the arts.
"A huge amount goes to the placement of our students in our nonpublic placement," Dr. White, chief academic officer, said, describing the district's approach to placements that are made "on a case by case basis through a process" when needed services cannot be provided inside district schools.
Mark Andrews, a district finance staff member who answered a technical question about funding sources, said the Maryland State Department of Education provides roughly 35 to 38 percent of nonpublic placement funding. Andrews also said House Bill 448 (the parity action referenced in the discussion) has driven increases in nonpublic expense as municipalities move toward raising nonpublic salaries to be more comparable to district levels.
Board members pressed whether the $10.3 million increase is sufficient to meet a growing population of students with disabilities. Dr. White said the budget request reflects what the administration believes it can fund and sustain and noted that special education spending is subject to a maintenance‑of‑effort requirement.
On autism supports, board members noted the district shows six full‑time equivalent autism specialists for FY24–26. Dr. White said specialists may split time across two programs now but that the district has a multi‑year plan to phase in additional dedicated specialists so each program has full coverage. She also pointed to the network of special educator staff assigned to every school (SCIS positions) that carry caseloads of roughly eight students in CSI schools and about 12 in non‑CSI schools.
Dr. White and other leaders said several special education positions and program moves occurred after last year’s budget book was published, including positions tied to Pointer Ridge and the new Glenridge Middle School’s autism program.
The administration said it will return with follow‑up information on open questions and promised more detailed analyses where board members requested them.
The discussion occurred during the Division of Academics budget presentation at the board's FY26 operating budget work session and public hearing.
