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Polk County review shows EC indicators largely meeting targets; board warned of funding shortfall
Summary
Polk County Schools presented its annual Exceptional Children report, showing most EC indicators meet state targets but noting growing caseloads (district cited ~19.5% EC identification) and concerns about state funding at ~13%, prompting calls for advocacy and attention to staffing and program capacity.
Polk County Schools administrators on Jan. 13 presented the district’s annual Exceptional Children (EC) report, saying most of the state’s 14 EC indicators meet targets but emphasizing growth in caseloads and continued staffing pressure.
Superintendent Green and the EC presenter (introduced in the meeting as "Miss Tony Hagen") reviewed graduation and dropout rates, state exam participation and proficiency measures, suspension and expulsion data, preschool inclusion metrics and parent-survey results. The presenter said preschool outcomes showed progress; she also noted that some indicators (13 and 14) lack recent data pending audits.
Why it matters: District administrators said EC enrollment has grown and the district now identifies roughly 19.5% of students as Exceptional Children while state funding models are based on approximately 13%, creating a structural funding gap the district said makes staffing and program delivery more difficult.
Superintendent Green summarized the concern: "Polk County Schools, I think, is currently about 19 and a half percent identified as exceptional children," and urged board members to lift those funding concerns with state leaders. Board members agreed that without changes to the funding model or additional staffing support from the Department of Public Instruction, the district could face financial and programmatic strain.
Administrators described practical classroom impacts: caseloads that once averaged about 18 are now trending into the mid-20s in some grades, programs added to serve higher-need students and promising examples such as students in a Hope Central special program who have become more successful after interventions.
Public input echoed staffing worries. Angela Vitali, who addressed the board during public comment, urged targeted salary supplements to recruit and retain teachers and paraprofessionals, warning that unfilled math positions at the high school would disrupt course availability: "If we do not fill right now the math vacancies at the high school, we will suffer because our students are not able to take the classes they need to take."
What’s next: Administrators said they will continue monthly reporting to principals on EC headcount, monitor caseloads and press for legislative and DPI attention to staffing and funding models.
