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Special-education update: SMSD outlines services and warns $11.5M shortfall risks
Summary
District special-education leaders presented a standalone program update covering services, staffing, compliance and spending; administrators said local funds cover nearly half of special-education costs, cited about 953 yearly initial evaluations (78% eligibility rate), and warned that the district would need roughly $11.5 million more to reach the statutory 92% reimbursement level.
Shawnee Mission School District staff delivered a detailed special-education program update, describing legal obligations (FAPE and child-find), the continuum of services, staffing allocations tied to student Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and a bold warning about state underfunding.
At the start of the session, the special-education administrative team outlined processes and definitions used by the district. The presentation noted the district completes an average of about 953 initial special-education evaluations per year and reported that roughly 78% of those evaluated were found eligible for services. Administrators said 135 students from…
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