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Board approves special-education staffing plan and LAFF for 2025–26
Summary
The St. Mary's County Board of Education approved the Local Application for Federal Funds (LAFF) and the special-education staffing plan for the 2025–26 school year after a presentation outlining caseload ratios and service workload targets.
Audrey Ellis presented the special-education staffing plan required by COMAR and the Local Application for Federal Funds (LAFF), which the board must submit to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
Ellis described staffing formulas and caseload goals: at the elementary level an average of one special-education resource teacher per 200 students with an average caseload of about 18 students; at middle school an average resource teacher per 150 students with caseloads averaging 15; and at high school again roughly one resource teacher per 200 students with average caseloads of 18. For related services, the plan sets typical workload ranges of 20–30 students for occupational and physical therapists and 40–50 students for speech-language pathologists. Regionalized special-education classrooms use a 1:9 teacher-to-student formula and typically include two paraeducators.
After the presentation, a board member moved to approve the LAFF and staffing plan for school year 2025–26; another member seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
The plan will be submitted to MSDE as part of the district's federal funding application. The board did not record additional conditions or amendments at this meeting.
