Special education leaders request targeted additions and warn nonpublic placements and vacancies are rising

Summary

Howard County special education staff told the board they are proposing targeted staffing additions and face rising nonpublic placement costs, persistent vacancies and workload pressure; staff said a program review is forthcoming and that some positions previously funded by pass-through grants are being moved to the operating budget.

Department of Special Education leaders told the Board of Education on Jan. 23 that the FY26 proposal includes targeted staff increases but does not yet close a larger staffing gap; nonpublic-placement costs and contracted services remain major pressure points.

Terry Savage, chief academic officer, and Richard Jeffries, executive director of special education, presented eight program budgets covering birth-to-21 special education services. They said the proposal would add staff for regional classrooms and other targeted needs, but that the operating budget does not yet meet all staffing needs identified by school leaders.

Key takeaways - Nonpublic services: The budget summary lists a $3.2 million net increase for nonpublic transfer tuition and compliance. Jeffries and others told the board that nonpublic placements have grown in recent years and that placement costs and…

Special education leaders request targeted additions and warn nonpublic placements and vacancies are rising

Summary

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