Keeping the Promise: High-Cost Special Education Aid

Date: November 2004

To: District Administrators, CESA Administrators, CCDEB Administrators,
and Other Interested Parties

From: Elizabeth Burmaster,
State Superintendent

Subject: Keeping the Promise: High-Cost Special Education Aid

It is my pleasure to announce the second year of funding for Keeping the Promise: High-Cost Special Education Aid. I am again setting aside $2 million in federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) discretionary funding to Wisconsin schools for services to children with severe disabilities

Eligible costs under the program include all costs (except administration or leadership) related to educating a student with high-cost special education needs. IDEA flow-through funds, Medicaid, and special education categorical aids are deducted first. Reimbursement is then calculated at 90 percent of the amount by which the total cost after deductions to provide special education and related services to an individual child exceeds $30,000.

In the first year of operation, 115 local educational agencies, including 109 school districts, three cooperative educational service agencies, and three county children with disabilities education boards, received reimbursement. Due to the number and amount of eligible claims, payments were prorated at approximately 59 percent. It is expected the eligible claims will be prorated again.

Districts will need to complete an eligibility worksheet, which can be found at dpi.wi.us/sfs/highcost.html. Districts will have until January 31, 2005, to make claims for costs incurred in the 2003-04 school year. DPI will review these claims and make payments for the approvable costs in June 2005.

For questions about this information, contact dpifin@dpi.wi.gov (608) 267-9114

Last updated on 2/25/2008 12:04:07 PM