HB 1373 (Carroll), a bill VACo supports, was continued to 2027 in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee on Friday. As passed by the House, the bill would direct 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 would direct 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.
VACo has historically supported reviewing this funding stream to determine how best to support students with intensive needs within the public school setting, and worked with legislators and advocacy partners to introduce budget amendment language that is similar in concept to the language of HB 1373. The House budget 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. The Senate budget includes similar language directing the Department of Education to make recommendations on removing barriers to use of SISNA funds; the Senate budget also directs the Department of Education to issue guidance regarding use of CSA funds for transition services to support students in returning back to public schools from private placements. VACo is supporting both amendments.
VACo Contacts: Katie Boyle and Jeremy Bennett