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Board approves 2026–29 special education plan after members raise growth concerns
Summary
The board approved a proposed 2026–2029 special education plan that planners said was based on district data and compliance monitoring; members and IU representatives warned of at least a 20% growth in early-childhood special education needs and urged proactive planning.
The board voted to approve a proposed three-year special education plan (2026–2029) developed by the steering committee and recommended by the supervisor of special education.
Supervisors and intermediate-unit representatives said the district should plan for substantial growth in needs for ages 3–5 — the IU reported a 20% increase in that cohort — and warned that delayed early identification could increase long-term costs. Board members asked for clarifications about interventionist grade spans and requested corrections to inconsistent language in the draft plan (for example, math-intervention grade ranges). The board struck an incorrect sentence that implied K–3 math intervention when the current service in practice this year covered K–1 for math.
"Because we're seeing that level of... growth in special education needs, it might behoove the district and the board to start thinking about what we do to maybe get ahead of that and curb some of those needs," a board member said during discussion. The plan passed on a motion and roll-call after clarifications were made.
