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District to pilot providing proportionate‑share vendor services to private‑school special‑education students
Summary
Administration told the board it will pilot allowing vendors to provide proportionate‑share services for a private‑school family that requested changes. The district said it is preparing codes, amending grants and setting up vendor payment processes to start a pilot the following week.
Scottsdale Unified staff told the governing board on April 14 they will pilot offering vendor‑provided services under the district’s proportionate‑share obligations for private‑school students with disabilities.
What proportionate share means: proportionate share is the portion of IDEA funds a district must use to provide equitable services to students placed by parents in nonprofit private schools within district boundaries. The district is responsible for Child Find evaluations and — for students at qualifying private nonprofits — individual service plans. Dr. Williams (special education staff) explained the district currently brings private‑school students to district sites for services but said some families prefer vendor delivery.
Pilot and logistics: staff said they had been working with one family and potential vendors, and that to proceed the district must complete vendor paperwork, open accounting codes and amend federal grant allocations to permit vendor payments. Dr. Williams said those steps were in progress and that staff planned to implement vendor services for the family “early next week” as a pilot. The district also plans a twice‑annual consultation meeting with private‑school families to discuss broader changes and capture preferences.
Why it matters: the change offers more service delivery options to families while maintaining the district’s legal obligations for evaluation and equitable services. Administration said it would continue to provide Child Find for all private‑school students, including for‑profit schools in some circumstances, and clarified that proportionate‑share payments are reserved for qualifying nonprofit private schools within the district boundaries.
Ending: Administration said it will return to the board with consultation‑meeting results and any recommended policy or program changes after the pilot.
