Patrick County School Board approves $597,644 special education plan for 2026–27

The Patrick County School Board on April 16 approved the school division’s federally required IDEA Part B annual plan for the 2026–27 school year, authorizing a total grant budget of $597,644 to support special education services.

Mr. Bolan, who presented the plan to the board, said the application certifies the division’s compliance with federal requirements and outlines how the funds will be spent. "The plan certifies our compliance with IDEA. It outlines how we'll spend our federal grant funds and confirm services that are in place for all our students with disabilities," he said.

Mr. Bolan told trustees the bulk of the Part B grant will fund staff: $590,844 is budgeted for personnel services to support 12 special education teachers and one instructional support position. The division will also set aside $6,800 as a proportionate payment required for students with disabilities who attend private or home schools.

Separate early childhood special education (Section 619) funds total $14,946, Mr. Bolan said, with $10,000 earmarked for personnel services, $3,846 for materials and supplies and a $1,100 set-aside. "This plan usually is pretty straightforward for our division. It's for staffing," he said.

Board members expressed no objections and the chair called for a vote. A motion to approve the IDEA Part B flow-through application carried.

The presentation noted that activities and services outlined in last year’s plan were implemented and that federal funds must supplement, not replace, local spending under the maintenance-of-effort requirement. The board approved the application and authorized staff to submit the grant to the state education agency.