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Valley Central special‑education director reports rising preschool classifications and higher out‑of‑district placement costs
Summary
The district’s special‑education director reported that the number of classified preschool students has nearly doubled since 2021, that about 101 students are placed out of district, and that the district is budgeting for increased out‑of‑district costs next year.
The Valley Central director of special education reviewed the district’s Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) practices and said early‑childhood classifications are increasing, with 168 classified preschoolers currently on the district’s caseload and a trend of rising need since 2021.
The director (identified in board materials as Miss Rollins) said the district has about 101 out‑of‑district students this year, including placements in private day programs and residential placements; those placements are among the cost drivers prompting a budget increase in related services. She reported small increases in residential and private day placements compared with prior years and emphasized the district’s obligation to align its continuum of services (including autism and behavior programs) with growing demand.
Administrators later told the board that the special‑education out‑of‑district budget line is projected to increase from about $6.6 million to $7.3 million in the next year, and that contractual services cover settlements, contracted therapies, and independent educational evaluations. The administration said it will continue to refine projections but warned variability in placements makes precise forecasting difficult.
