Senate passes three-year pilot to help districts cover high-cost special-education services

The Utah Senate on March 4 approved a three-year pilot to provide targeted funding to local education agencies (LEAs) for students with high-cost special-education needs.

Senator David Stevenson, sponsor, told the Senate the program would restore funding cut during the COVID-19 budget reductions and provide support for medically fragile students needing nursing, therapy, sign language and other services that can exceed $60,000 per pupil. "This bill creates and accomplishes a, a 3 year pilot program to test out the cost of increasing the closely monitor the approaches to reimbursing the LEAs for students needing high cost, services," Stevenson said in presenting the measure.

Nut graf: Supporters said the pilot is aimed at closing an acute funding gap while the Legislature and education committees work on longer-term allocation reforms. Senator Sandahl noted that past statute and funding mechanisms left some districts with restricted special-education balances they could not spend; supporters described the $1 million, one-time allocation as a targeted response.

Lawmakers debated allocation mechanics and accountability. Senator Sandahl said the program allows the Legislature room to test approaches to resource allocation without committing to a permanent increase. Senator Maine called for strong accountability if the program is funded.

The motion to pass the third substitute HB 421 was taken under suspension of rules. A roll-call vote was recorded and the Senate returned the bill to the House after the measure passed the Senate with the votes reported on the floor.

The bill now returns to the House for further consideration and signature procedures. Sponsors said the pilot is likely to prompt additional funding discussions in future sessions should the Legislature decide to expand or make permanent the program.