Special-education leaders warn Act 73 weights risk federal funding and call for regional service design

Mary Lundeen, executive director of the Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators (VCSEA), told the House Education Committee on Feb. 4 that VCSEA’s top priorities are protecting IDEA-funded services and ensuring fiscal integrity as Act 73 is implemented. She said the group is focusing on the Special Education Weighting Design and on development of Cooperative Education Service Agencies (CESAs).

"Our primary goal is to engage in a meaningful dialogue with you regarding these critical issues," Lundeen said, introducing the witnesses and VCSEA’s written priorities and fact sheet on maintenance of effort (MOE).

Heather Freeman, director of special education for the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union, explained the federal MOE requirement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B and warned of the consequences if a local education agency cannot meet the test. "It's a fiscal requirement under the federal IDEA law," Freeman said, describing the two MOE tests — budgeting and actual spending — and noting that if an LEA cannot document allowable…