Agency of Education: special‑education enrollments rise and costs concentrate in high‑need cases

The Agency of Education told the Education Committee on Feb. 5 that Vermont is seeing more students on individualized education programs even as total enrollment declines, and that spending on a small number of high‑need students has driven much of recent cost growth.

“This is a really important report,” Secretary of Education Zoe Saunders said, introducing the statutorily required “current state of special education delivery” report under Act 73. Saunders said the report will guide the agency’s strategic plan and a reorganization intended to strengthen special education delivery across the state.

Agency staff summarized the report’s central findings: the number and share of students with IEPs has risen, a growing subset qualify for extraordinary‑cost placements, and extraordinary costs have accounted for nearly half of special education spending growth over the past six years while comprising roughly 15% of the total current special education budget. Anna Russo, the agency’s technical assistance and…