CheapNailsalonsnearme–Texas school districts are facing an unexpected financial challenge as they stand to lose over $300 million annually in special education funding. This development, stemming from a federal administrative decision, has caught many districts off guard, particularly at a time when the demand for special education evaluations is surging.
The cuts are particularly steep for some districts. Northside ISD in San Antonio, Dallas ISD, and Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, for instance, are bracing for shortfalls exceeding $10 million. The funding loss is due to a 2017 audit that revealed Texas had been improperly coding medical services within special education, resulting in overpayments. As a result, the state’s expected reimbursement under the school Medicaid program is significantly reduced.
Rene Barajas, deputy superintendent at Northside, expressed concern over the timing of the decision, noting the difficulty in adjusting budgets mid-year. Districts like Northside plan to continue providing special education services but will have to look for budget cuts in other areas.
Representative James Frank noted that Texas had been receiving a disproportionately high percentage of the program’s funds compared to its population size. He acknowledged the long-standing struggle between state and federal officials over this issue.
Texas school districts are poised to lose more than $300 million a year in special education funding under a recent federal administrative decision, at a time when many districts are struggling to keep up with an exploding number of evaluation requests. https://t.co/nf0vQFopOs
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) January 10, 2024
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The Texas Association of School Boards and other stakeholders are calling for legislative action to address the shortfall. With school districts in Texas already spending over $2 billion more on special education than they receive from the state, this funding cut deepens existing financial strains.
The situation is further complicated by the state not increasing its basic, per-student funding since 2019, despite inflation. While there is bipartisan support for increasing education funding, Governor Greg Abbott’s focus on a private school voucher program has stalled these initiatives.
This funding crunch comes at a critical time when districts are already struggling to meet the growing demand for special education services and comply with federal timelines. The reduction in federal reimbursement is not just a financial blow but also a significant operational challenge for Texas school districts.
