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Governor Dayton proposes more than $19 million per year to help school districts meet rising special education costs

4/12/2018 12:45:08 PM

Without action, funding gap for school districts is projected to grow to $817 million by FY 2021 
 
ROSEVILLE, MN - Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius emphasized the urgent need for Governor Mark Dayton’s proposed special education funding plan today with Bruce Hentges, school board member for St. Cloud Area School District. The governor’s plan would increase special education funding by $19 million for fiscal year 2019 and $22 million for 2020 to help districts cover the rising costs of special education services.
 
There are currently 141,237 children and youth, ages birth-21, receiving special education services in Minnesota. Special education costs are increasing for a variety of reasons, including an increase in the number of students receiving special education services. That number is projected to continue to increase. More than 150,000 students are projected to receive special education services by FY 2020.  Costs are also rising because of increased numbers of special education staff to address the needs of students, plus lower staffing ratios and inflationary increases in staff salaries and fringe benefits.
 
“Our Minnesota school districts have had to find ways to cover the unfunded costs of special education for decades, and it places a huge burden on their already stressed budgets,” said Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. “Governor Dayton took the first steps in 2013 to close that funding gap. With this proposal, he continues to demonstrate his commitment to our students with special education needs and the teachers who serve them. Our school districts tell us this is a priority, and we are listening to them.”
 
“St. Cloud school district plans to spend about $32 million on special education this year,” said St. Cloud Area School District board member Bruce Hentges. “More than $14 million of that is not covered by state or federal funding. All of that has to come from somewhere, and if special education had better funding, we’d be able to expand on what we can offer students. This is happening at schools across our state, and it’s not fair to our students and staff.”
 
Minnesota has a history of leading when it comes to supporting students with disabilities. Sixty years ago, Minnesota was the first state in the nation to pass a special education law. The landmark legislation created a model for the eventual passage of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Today, Minnesota’s ability to provide a great education to every student, everywhere in the state, is impacted by the rising costs of special education.
 
When the federal government passed the first federal mandates in 1975 regarding special education services, they committed to cover approximately 40 percent of the cost. However, in the 2017-18 school year, the federal government will cover only about 12 percent of the cost. Even with state funding for special education, districts are left with a sizable funding gap, often called the special education “cross subsidy.” Nearly every school district in Minnesota uses money from their general fund to cover the rising costs of special education services.
 
This funding gap forces nearly every school district in Minnesota to use unreserved general fund money to cover the rising special education costs, which diminishes educational opportunities for all students and puts stress on special education programming. The average cross subsidy for Minnesota school districts is $783 per student. In total, the cross subsidy has grown from $600 million for fiscal year 2014, to $672 million for 2017. The gap is projected to balloon to $817 million by FY 2021.
 
The governor and Legislature previously increased special education funding in 2013, with a $40 million increase to the funding formula.

More Resources
District level data for the funding gap for special education services is available from the Minnesota Department of Education’s Data Center. Select “Cross-Subsidy Reports” as the subcategory option at the link below to find available reports: http://w20.education.state.mn.us/MDEAnalytics/DataTopic.jsp?TOPICID=46
 
The department’s most recent report to the Legislature on the funding gap for special education services was completed in October 2017. 
 

School Districts that Would Receive Increased Special Education Funding under Governor Dayton’s Plan in FY 2019

District Number

School District or Charter School Name

Funding Amount (in Dollars)

2396

A.C.G.C. Public School District

$13,076

4073

Academia Cesar Chavez Charter Sch.

$567

4119

Academic Arts High School

$3,313

4018

Achieve Language Academy

$503

2854

Ada-Borup Public School District

$5,281

511

Adrian Public School District

$4,860

4074

Afsa High School

$2,494

1

Aitkin Public School District

$34,399

745

Albany Public School District

$55,177

241

Albert Lea Public School District

$104,232

242

Alden-Conger Public School District

$9,137

206

Alexandria Public School District

$174,492

876

Annandale Public School District

$24,048

11

Anoka-Hennepin Public School Dist.

$1,264,806

4091

Arcadia Charter School

$1,248

261

Ashby Public School District

$1,542

4184

Aspen Academy

$1,177

4011

Athlos Leadership Academy

$863

4067

Aurora Charter School

$943

4075

Avalon School

$1,975

676

Badger Public School District

$1,807

91

Barnum Public School District

$21,965

542

Battle Lake Public School District

$12,375

4124

Beacon Academy

$2,437

726

Becker Public School District

$81,141

2364

Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa School District

$7,871

716

Belle Plaine Public School District

$48,622

31

Bemidji Public School District

$189,008

777

Benson Public School District

$8,012

4192

Best Academy

$1,777

727

Big Lake Public School District

$166,937

4246

Big Picture Twin Cities

$741

2534

Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian

$20,397

32

Blackduck Public School District

$17,978

271

Bloomington Public School District

$421,539

2860

Blue Earth Area Public School

$22,239

4082

Bluesky Charter School

$460

4001

Bluffview Montessori

$420

314

Braham Public School District

$21,708

181

Brainerd Public School District

$201,481

2908

Brandon-Evansville Public Schools

$5,831

846

Breckenridge Public School District

$6,070

4189

Bright Water Elementary

$444

286

Brooklyn Center School District

$52,512

801

Browns Valley Public School Dist.

$4,567

877

Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Public Sch

$171,491

191

Burnsville Public School District

$268,310

836

Butterfield Public School District

$6,894

531

Byron Public School District

$20,743

299

Caledonia Public School District

$19,225

911

Cambridge-Isanti Public School Dist

$243,724

852

Campbell-Tintah Public School Dist.

$4,306

252

Cannon Falls Public School District

$14,575

4194

Cannon River Stem School

$269

93

Carlton Public School District

$6,058

115

Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools

$4,658

2754

Cedar Mountain School District

$14,269

12

Centennial Public School District

$213,053

108

Central Public School District

$14,814

227

Chatfield Public Schools

$10,385

2144

Chisago Lakes School District

$100,302

695

Chisholm Public School District

$21,358

4172

Clarkfield Charter School

$223

2311

Clearbrook-Gonvick School District

$12,252

592

Climax-Shelly Public Schools

$1,266

94

Cloquet Public School District

$43,503

4193

College Preparatory Elementary

$561

4188

Cologne Academy

$1,583

13

Columbia Heights Public School Dist

$95,133

81

Comfrey Public School District

$4,294

4015

Community Of Peace Academy

$892

4181

Community School Of Excellence

$1,303

166

Cook County Public Schools

$14,150

4201

Cornerstone Montessori Elementary

$296

95

Cromwell-Wright Public Schools

$3,675

593

Crookston Public School District

$56,847

182

Crosby-Ironton Public School Dist.

$30,753

4059

Crosslake Community Charter School

$853

466

Dassel-Cokato Public School Dist.

$5,966

4185

Davinci Academy

$515

378

Dawson-Boyd Public School District

$7,842

317

Deer River Public School District

$46,044

879

Delano Public School District

$80,445

22

Detroit Lakes Public School Dist.

$31,735

2164

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton

$12,868

4081

Discovery Public School Faribault

$64

4198

Discovery Woods Montessori School

$81

533

Dover-Eyota Public School District

$12,099

4153

Dugsi Academy

$370

709

Duluth Public School District

$250,496

4020

Duluth Public Schools Academy

$7,101

4026

E.C.H.O. Charter School

$109

4122

Eagle Ridge Academy Charter School

$1,256

2580

East Central School District

$21,384

595

East Grand Forks Public School Dist

$17,556

4166

East Range Academy Of Tech-Science

$475

112

Eastern Carver County Public School

$101,883

272

Eden Prairie Public School District

$166,979

463

Eden Valley-Watkins School District

$10,187

581

Edgerton Public School District

$4,054

273

Edina Public School District

$222,399

4151

Edvisions Off Campus School

$97

4057

El Colegio Charter School

$56

728

Elk River Public School District

$234,517

514

Ellsworth Public School District

$4,007

99

Esko Public School District

$11,098

4068

Excell Academy Charter

$1,543

4036

Face To Face Academy

$905

2752

Fairmont Area School District

$48,931

192

Farmington Public School District

$143,392

544

Fergus Falls Public School District

$55,191

599

Fertile-Beltrami School District

$14,179

2198

Fillmore Central

$17,767

600

Fisher Public School District

$1,412

4244

Fit Academy

$1,399

831

Forest Lake Public School District

$140,502

601

Fosston Public School District

$6,754

23

Frazee-Vergas Public School Dist.

$9,877

14

Fridley Public School District

$154,704

4079

Friendship Acdmy Of Fine Arts Chtr.

$323

505

Fulda Public School District

$9,096

4168

Glacial Hills Elementary

$86

2886

Glenville-Emmons School District

$7,715

4186

Global Academy

$993

253

Goodhue Public School District

$8,208

561

Goodridge Public School District

$6,555

2536

Granada Huntley-East Chain

$4,579

318

Grand Rapids Public School District

$124,039

4100

Great Expectations

$611

4105

Great River School

$1,978

4144

Green Isle Community School

$242

2683

Greenbush-Middle River School Dist.

$11,394

316

Greenway Public School District

$72,617

768

Hancock Public School District

$5,838

4085

Harbor City International Charter

$1,071

4032

Harvest Preparatory School

$735

200

Hastings Public School District

$130,696

150

Hawley Public School District

$12,011

203

Hayfield Public School District

$10,652

4205

Hennepin Elementary School

$443

545

Henning Public School District

$10,037

264

Herman-Norcross School District

$3,163

700

Hermantown Public School District

$25,531

330

Heron Lake-Okabena School District

$2,137

4170

Hiawatha Academies

$3,715

701

Hibbing Public School District

$29,672

4039

High School For Recording Arts

$926

4027

Higher Ground Academy

$492

2

Hill City Public School District

$5,011

671

Hills-Beaver Creek School District

$11,383

2165

Hinckley-Finlayson School District

$29,339

4103

Hmong College Prep Academy

$1,894

738

Holdingford Public School District

$21,313

4070

Hope Community Academy

$577

270

Hopkins Public School District

$59,762

294

Houston Public School District

$12,733

423

Hutchinson Public School District

$83,406

4167

International Spanish Language Acad

$236

199

Inver Grove Heights Schools

$116,407

473

Isle Public School District

$1,081

403

Ivanhoe Public School District

$2,693

2895

Jackson County Central School Dist.

$12,625

2835

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton

$7,795

4031

Jennings Community Learning Center

$244

717

Jordan Public School District

$54,973

4118

Kaleidoscope Charter School

$2,028

36

Kelliher Public School District

$8,642

2172

Kenyon-Wanamingo School District

$14,932

775

Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg

$21,782

739

Kimball Public School District

$22,187

2137

Kingsland Public School District

$13,169

4191

Kipp Minnesota Charter School

$1,052

2171

Kittson Central School District

$9,521

300

La Crescent-Hokah School District

$32,961

2853

Lac Qui Parle Valley School Dist.

$36,827

4054

Lacrescent Montessori Academy

$233

4050

Lafayette Public Charter School

$74

390

Lake Of The Woods School District

$12,294

2889

Lake Park Audubon School District

$9,876

381

Lake Superior Public School Dist.

$46,872

4116

Lakes International Language Academ

$801

2167

Lakeview School District

$17,101

194

Lakeville Public School District

$325,949

229

Lanesboro Public School District

$3,375

306

Laporte Public School District

$2,423

4164

Laura Jeffrey Academy Charter

$164

4163

Learning For Leadership Charter

$691

424

Lester Prairie Public School Dist.

$6,299

857

Lewiston-Altura Public School Dist.

$9,864

4035

Life Prep

$684

4178

Lincoln International School

$191

465

Litchfield Public School District

$23,202

482

Little Falls Public School District

$20,615

362

Littlefork-Big Falls School Dist.

$2,724

2753

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle School Dist

$23,753

4139

Loveworks Academy For Arts

$520

2184

Luverne Public School District

$19,386

2180

M.A.C.C.R.A.Y. School District

$8,951

432

Mahnomen Public School District

$17,955

832

Mahtomedi Public School District

$98,008

4110

Main Street School Performing Arts

$278

77

Mankato Public School District

$81,059

881

Maple Lake Public School District

$24,307

4254

Marine Area Community School

$1,190

441

Marshall County Central Schools

$7,389

413

Marshall Public School District

$29,623

2448

Martin County West School District

$7,957

4209

Mastery School

$501

4043

Math And Science Academy

$1,232

4

Mcgregor Public School District

$14,079

763

Medford Public School District

$25,938

740

Melrose Public School District

$18,230

821

Menahga Public School District

$15,203

4131

Metro Schools Charter

$418

912

Milaca Public School District

$22,679

4138

Milroy Area Charter School

$280

635

Milroy Public School District

$738

1

Minneapolis Public School Dist.

$1,052,146

414

Minneota Public School District

$2,850

4078

Minnesota International Middle Chtr

$982

4102

Minnesota Internship Center

$271

4007

Minnesota New Country School

$299

4150

Minnesota Online High School

$180

4017

Minnesota Transitions Charter Sch

$3,415

276

Minnetonka Public School District

$110,637

2149

Minnewaska School District

$37,421

129

Montevideo Public School District

$18,890

882

Monticello Public School District

$273,732

152

Moorhead Public School District

$123,080

97

Moose Lake Public School District

$20,288

2769

Morris Area Public Schools

$23,024

173

Mountain Lake Public Schools

$7,781

2169

Murray County Central School Dist.

$8,657

4208

Nasha Shkola Charter School

$116

319

Nashwauk-Keewatin School District

$8,945

4187

Natural Science Academy

$173

4155

Naytahwaush Community School

$515

4055

Nerstrand Charter School

$389

308

Nevis Public School District

$8,823

4093

New Century Academy

$379

4089

New City School

$217

4161

New Discoveries Montessori Academy

$1,591

4003

New Heights School, Inc.

$122

345

New London-Spicer School District

$46,192

4143

New Millennium Academy Charter Sch

$1,834

721

New Prague Area Schools

$108,538

88

New Ulm Public School District

$61,906

553

New York Mills Public School Dist.

$10,218

507

Nicollet Public School District

$1,377

2215

Norman County East School District

$8,471

138

North Branch Public Schools

$86,790

4053

North Lakes Academy

$670

4084

North Shore Community School

$581

622

North St Paul-Maplewood Oakdale Dis

$441,510

4146

Northern Lights Community School

$959

659

Northfield Public School District

$135,924

118

Northland Community Schools

$10,319

4049

Northwest Passage High School

$764

4098

Nova Classical Academy

$791

2168

Nrheg School District

$7,342

480

Onamia Public School District

$20,260

278

Orono Public School District

$49,601

2903

Ortonville Public Schools

$6,636

4195

Oshki Ogimaag Charter School

$72

279

Osseo Public School District

$791,465

761

Owatonna Public School District

$51,773

4008

Pact Charter School

$2,025

4104

Paladin Academy

$935

309

Park Rapids Public School District

$88,337

547

Parkers Prairie Public School Dist.

$5,943

4199

Parnassus Preparatory Charter Sch

$849

4097

Partnership Academy, Inc.

$809

741

Paynesville Public School District

$13,088

548

Pelican Rapids Public School Dist.

$9,702

186

Pequot Lakes Public Schools

$21,065

549

Perham-Dent Public School District

$14,604

4080

Pillager Area Charter School

$47

116

Pillager Public School District

$34,757

578

Pine City Public School District

$26,238

255

Pine Island Public School Dist.

$16,569

2174

Pine River-Backus School District

$17,031

2689

Pipestone Area School District

$20,255

2899

Plainview-Elgin-Millville

$13,610

4090

Prairie Creek Community School

$605

4126

Prairie Seeds Academy

$837

477

Princeton Public School District

$42,751

815

Prinsburg Public School District

$348

719

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools

$222,380

195

Randolph Public School District

$5,953

38

Red Lake Public School District

$50,531

256

Red Wing Public School District

$112,712

2897

Redwood Area School District

$23,762

2890

Renville County West School Dist.

$9,861

280

Richfield Public School District

$175,935

4083

Ridgeway Community School

$202

4066

Riverbend Academy

$74

4190

Rivers Edge Academy

$422

4064

Riverway Learning Community Chtr

$103

281

Robbinsdale Public School District

$360,776

4135

Rochester Math And Science Academy

$671

4056

Rochester Off-Campus Charter High

$273

535

Rochester Public School District

$538,665

4204

Rochester Stem Academy

$145

750

Rocori Public School District

$31,977

682

Roseau Public School District

$11,583

196

Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan

$864,015

623

Roseville Public School District

$236,331

850

Rothsay Public School District

$1,976

485

Royalton Public School District

$13,965

2902

Rtr Public Schools

$17,510

139

Rush City Public School District

$26,194

4087

Sage Academy Charter School

$381

748

Sartell-St. Stephen School District

$40,879

743

Sauk Centre Public School District

$10,824

47

Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools

$22,213

4058

Schoolcraft Learning Community Chtr

$1,360

820

Sebeka Public School District

$15,284

4159

Seven Hills Classical Academy

$2,280

720

Shakopee Public School District

$253,544

2310

Sibley East School District

$33,995

4038

Sojourner Truth Academy

$712

363

South Koochiching School District

$2,250

6

South St. Paul Public School Dist.

$119,149

833

South Washington County School Dist

$572,532

4162

Southside Family Charter School

$176

4160

Spectrum High School

$602

297

Spring Grove School District

$10,078

16

Spring Lake Park Public Schools

$97,079

85

Springfield Public School District

$16,268

4112

St Paul Conservatory Performing Art

$4,745

282

St. Anthony-New Brighton Schools

$36,916

742

St. Cloud Public School District

$304,710

4120

St. Croix Preparatory Academy

$1,836

15

St. Francis Public School District

$153,573

2142

St. Louis County School District

$57,974

283

St. Louis Park Public School Dist.

$137,229

885

St. Michael-Albertville School Dist

$124,750

4029

St. Paul City School

$815

625

St. Paul Public School District

$777,185

2170

Staples-Motley School District

$27,815

2856

Stephen-Argyle Central Schools

$8,652

834

Stillwater Area Public School Dist.

$239,631

4169

Stonebridge Community School

$817

4142

Stride Academy Charter School

$743

4137

Swan River Montessori Charter Sch

$656

4127

Team Academy

$571

564

Thief River Falls School District

$22,922

2904

Tracy Area Public School District

$21,230

2905

Tri-City United School District

$33,230

2358

Tri-County School District

$6,478

4095

Trio Wolf Creek Distance Learning

$518

458

Truman Public School District

$5,738

4132

Twin Cities Academy High School

$544

4152

Twin Cities German Immersion Chtr

$958

4077

Twin Cities International Elem Sch

$685

4121

Ubah Medical Academy Charter School

$15

550

Underwood Public School District

$9,194

4210

Upper Mississippi Academy

$1,638

4088

Urban Academy Charter School

$385

4218

Venture Academy

$1,276

4207

Vermilion Country School

$46

818

Verndale Public School District

$3,440

706

Virginia Public School District

$18,489

811

Wabasha-Kellogg Public School Dist.

$22,344

640

Wabasso Public School District

$5,053

110

Waconia Public School District

$123,177

2155

Wadena-Deer Creek School District

$17,579

2176

Warren-Alvarado-Oslo School Dist.

$5,899

690

Warroad Public School District

$3,484

829

Waseca Public School District

$20,341

111

Watertown-Mayer Public School Dist.

$23,879

2143

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown

$10,798

284

Wayzata Public School District

$375,771

2342

West Central Area

$18,926

4212

West Side Summit Charter School

$383

197

West St. Paul-Mendota Hts.-Eagan

$119,854

2898

Westbrook-Walnut Grove Schools

$6,169

277

Westonka Public School District

$30,398

803

Wheaton Area Public School District

$5,085

624

White Bear Lake School District

$253,942

577

Willow River Public School District

$4,538

177

Windom Public School District

$9,710

2609

Win-E-Mac School District

$16,930

861

Winona Area Public School District

$90,710

4016

World Learner Charter School

$497

518

Worthington Public School District

$37,568

100

Wrenshall Public School District

$11,312

2190

Yellow Medicine East

$36,947

4140

Yinghua Academy

$584

2805

Zumbrota-Mazeppa School District

$34,376

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