HB 1373 (Carroll), as passed by the House, directs the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Office of Children’s Services, money committee staff, and other stakeholders, to assess ways to maximize use of funds to support students with disabilities in public schools and to decrease the number of referrals to private day school placements. The existing funding stream that supports regional special education initiatives, the Students with Intensive Support Needs Application (SISNA) program, was restructured several years ago; these dollars reimburse school divisions for costs associated with supporting students with certain specified disabilities. The bill directs the Department to review barriers to school divisions’ use of these funds and the potential use of supplemental funds for school divisions operating center-based programs. A report is due in December.
VACo has historically supported reviewing this funding stream to determine how best to support students with intensive needs within the public school setting, and the bill is similar in concept to budget amendment language introduced at the request of VACo and advocacy partners earlier this session. The House Appropriations Committee budget reported on Sunday provides an additional $10 million for the SISNA program and directs the Department of Education to expand the disability categories eligible for tuition reimbursement, with consideration of students’ complex behavioral needs that may otherwise need to be served in private day placements.
HB 1373 has been referred to the Senate Education and Health Committee. VACo testified in favor and will continue to support the bill and funding proposal as legislative and budget discussions move forward.
VACo Contacts: Katie Boyle and Jeremy R. Bennett