Editorial: Oregon has a problem paying for special education

There is a problem in Oregon with paying to teach children with special needs. Unless something happens in the next legislative session, the problem will continue. The state caps the additional money districts get for special education instruction at 11% of their enrollment. The actual average need for special education services in most school districts is above the 11% threshold. If districts have more needs, they can apply for more money. What ends up happening, though, is districts must direct money away from educating other students to help serve its special education students. Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steve Cook says the Bend district does not get fully compensated to help educate special education students. It’s like a tax on the district’s general fund budget that undermines its ability to teach all students, he said. The cost of special education students vary. Some students cost the Bend district upwards of $250,000 to educate, Cook said.

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