Certified October 1 enrollment: special education and free/reduced counts rise

District staff presented the finalized October 1 certified enrollments and highlighted several budget‑relevant changes. Ryan (district staff) told the board the special‑education child count rose to 320 this year from 288 last year — an increase of about 11% — and that the number of students qualifying as economically disadvantaged increased to 355 from 229 (about a 55% rise), which will increase state subsidy under the state formula.

Ryan said attending enrollment is down by about 10 students, a change he described as not statistically significant in the districtwide context, and subsidized enrollment is down by 15 students because of Rollinsford students who generate tuition rather than subsidy. The superintendent and staff emphasized that the state smooths regular K‑12 enrollment over two years for subsidy calculations, but that pre‑K counts are handled differently and a drop of 21 pre‑K students will have an immediate effect.

Staff also noted a 75% increase in students identified for English as a second language (from three or four to seven) and discussed how different funding streams (e.g., categorical funds for special education or ELL services) interact with the district's EPS formula. Board members asked clarifying questions about how these counts affect per‑pupil funding, class‑size policies and budgeting for the coming year; staff said more detailed budget work will follow in December as the board refines class‑size policies and prepares the budget.