RSU 12 joins Maine cohort to provide pre-K special-education services; staff say state funding will follow

RSU 12 staff told the board the district has joined Maine DOE's cohort 2 to assume responsibility for special-education services for three- and four-year-olds previously handled by Child Development Services (CDS).

A district staff member leading the special-education transition said the district currently has 23 pre-K students with individualized education programs (IEPs) and has opened a self-contained pre-K special-education classroom at Whitefield that has enrolled five students so far. Staff said the money that previously went to CDS "is now flowing to us," and that the state has assured districts the necessary funds will follow the transition.

Board members raised concerns that serving younger children may identify more students in need and therefore increase short-term costs. Staff responded that identified children are counted for subsidy purposes and that bringing services in-house should allow the district to provide needed interventions sooner. "CDS was not able to provide services," the special-education lead said, arguing that taking direct responsibility will let the district deliver more consistent early intervention.

Staff flagged operational challenges that remain: hiring additional specialists (pre-K special-ed teacher, edtechs, life-skills staff) and consolidating or funding van transportation to deliver services across multiple sites. The board discussed the finance/operations committee awareness of van costs and the district's plan to charge allowable van costs to the state when appropriate.

No formal action was taken at the meeting beyond informational updates; staff said they will continue billing the state and report back as the transition proceeds.