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Committee hears overview of IDEA funds, staff say about 80% pays salaries
Summary
The finance committee reviewed federal IDEA funding allocations, with staff saying roughly 80% of IDEA 611 supports staffing, salaries and benefits and IDEA 619 targets preschool supports and paraeducator hiring.
The New Haven School District Finance & Operations Committee heard an overview of federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funding, including IDEA 611 and IDEA 619. Miss Nutter, the staff presenter for special education funding, said IDEA 611 primarily supports staffing needs: “the bulk of IDEA 611 really covers, about 80% of that money goes towards staffing, salary, and benefits.” Committee members asked whether the district knows how many additional positions would be required to stop contracting out services.
The presenter said IDEA 619 funds focus on preschool and early childhood supports and are used to hire paraeducators and other staff for the district’s youngest learners. A committee member requested a specific shortage number; staff said Miss Sandy Jackson would have the exact figure and that the district faces statewide staffing pipeline issues for speech and language pathologists, not only local shortages. The item will be included in materials sent to the full board for consideration.
