External review: Missoula special‑education costs rising; consultant urges director, billing overhaul

An outside consultant presenting at the Missoula County Public Schools work session on March 11 concluded the district’s special‑education program faces rising costs and structural weaknesses that exacerbate budget pressure.

Consultant Vern (no last name provided in the presentation) summarized an analysis of district and state data showing that federal IDEA Part B and state funding have not kept pace with local spending increases. Vern said local taxpayers have covered the bulk of recent growth: federal IDEA funding rose by roughly $325,000 and state special‑education funding grew by about $63,000 in the period reviewed, while local special‑education spending rose by roughly $2.4 million.

Key findings and numerical context - Preschool costs: the consultant said the district’s preschool program represents roughly $1.3 million in local cost; federal preschool IDEA funding is comparatively small and the state provides no dedicated preschool funding, leaving local taxpayers to underwrite the program. - Tuition/excess…