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Sheridan SD 48J staff report special-education rate near 19% and highlight high student mobility
Summary
Staff told the board the district now counts 82 students with IEPs and an overall special-education rate of about 19%, with a 45% move-in rate among students who arrived already identified; the board discussed disproportionality findings and diagnostic trends.
District special-programs staff presented an end-of-year review noting growth in special-education identification and high mobility among students.
The presenter said two new IEP students were added that day and that the district’s special-education headcount was at 82 students, bringing the district’s special-education rate to “about 19%.” The presenter explained that state funding effectively covers up to 13% of a district’s special-education costs, leaving the district to absorb the remainder.
Staff described a move-in rate of roughly 45%—students who arrived to the district already identified with IEPs—and said 55% were identified after arrival. The report included a breakdown of common eligibilities (autism, specific learning disability, developmental delay) and noted several students will age out in the coming year.
Board members pressed for more granular breakdowns (for example, how many IEP students live in-district versus on interdistrict transfers); staff offered to pull those numbers for a future meeting. One board member noted a prior mixed-status finding of disproportionality related to emotional/behavioral disorder and summarized a root-cause review that showed a majority of those students had moved into the district already identified.
Why it matters: the district’s special-education rate and move-in patterns affect staffing, budgeting and compliance with state reporting and equity reviews. Board members directed staff to provide further breakdowns to inform budget and program decisions.
What’s next: staff will return with more detailed counts (in-district vs. interdistrict transfers) and continue to monitor disproportionality metrics.
