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Special-education director: Cascade at 16.9% special-education enrollment; high-cost claims top $1.5 million
Summary
Special education director Johnson told the board Cascade’s special-education population is 16.9% (above the state average cited at ~14.8%), that 20 high-cost students cost about $1.5 million last year, and that the state returned about $225,000 via high-cost disability funds.
Special education director Johnson reported the district’s special-education enrollment at 16.9% and said the number is rising as more students move into the district already on individualized education programs (IEPs). He told the board that Cascade served more than 460 special-education students (up from 382 in 2020) and that families sometimes relocate to Cascade to access specialized programs.
Johnson walked the board through high-cost disability funding: last year staff documented 20 students costing more than $30,000 each to educate (about $1.5 million total) and the district received approximately $225,000 back from the state. He said the 11% double-weighting cap covers only the first portion of special-education students and that other costs currently come out of the general fund, raising concern about sustainability if the general fund tightens.
