Series Offered Misleading Cost Analysis

SPEAK OUT – SPECIAL EDUCATION

The Nov. 14 article in The Patriot Ledger concerning special education costs reports on promising programs developed by public school districts in response to the dramatic increase in students diagnosed with disabilities such as autism.

Unfortunately, the article also states that special education “is squeezing school budgets like never before” and that “Massachusetts spent $1.8 billion on 163,396 special needs students last year.” However, the article fails to inform readers that, according to the state Department of Education, the $1.8 billion equals 19 percent of total school spending and 163,396 special needs students equal 16 percent of the student population. It’s important for readers to understand that this 16 percent of the student population comprise only 19 percent of total school spending. Students who are disabled and require additional services in order to receive an appropriate education are not taking more than their fair share. Readers and the public deserve to know the entire story concerning the cost of public education in Massachusetts.

For example, the article repeatedly mentions, “costly” and “expensive” private special education schools costing $125,000 per year. What the article fails to mention is that this tuition rate is for students whose public school district has determined require highly specialized education and treatment services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – in a residential school. This represents a cost of $14.27 per hour, about what a teacher’s aide is paid in the public schools.

However, the residential school is providing academic instruction, multiple therapies, residential staff that are on duty at all times, housing, food, physical education and more – every day. In fact, Chapter 766-approved private special education schools provide millions of dollars each year in private funding to subsidize the cost of public education for about 6,000 public students. In 2006, C766 private schools provided $17.2 million in private donations to help Massachusetts school districts subsidize the education of their public students.

The article also failed to inform readers that the biggest budget buster for school districts is not spending for disabled students, but the skyrocketing cost of health insurance for school employees. School district indirect service costs, such as health insurance premiums, take 32 percent of the budget and have increased by 19 percent in just four years. Health insurance costs are expected to continue to increase at a rate that could cause municipal meltdowns. Readers should be made aware of this threat to both the school and municipal budgets.

It would also help readers to know that Massachusetts ranks 32nd, behind states such as Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, in the percent of state funding for public education. This forces towns to rely too much on local property taxes to pay for education. This creates unnecessary friction when it comes time to balance school budgets.

State policymakers and members of the news media need to stop blaming special education for school district budget problems and focus on solutions that are within reach. According to the state auditor, Massachusetts could realize $50 million a year in additional Medicaid revenue by just changing our billing practice. According to the Massachusetts Taxpayer’s Foundation, we could save $100 million next fiscal year if every city and town participated in the Group Insurance Commission for municipal employees’ health insurance. By 2013, the Commonwealth could save $750 million and by 2018, we could save a stunning $2.5 billion – annually. School districts also could save $10 million to $15 million a year by eliminating duplication in student transportation routes. These are all revenue enhancements and cost savings that are currently within the control of school and town administrators.

Finally, the state needs to provide more funding for both regular and special education to help school districts. If the state of Alabama can fund 56 percent of school costs, then Massachusetts should be able to provide more than just 44 percent.

In 1993, the state Supreme Judicial Court ruled in the landmark McDuffy case that the responsibility for providing public education rests with the state. Until the state funds more of the cost of education, which would allow our communities to become less dependent on local property taxes, this Commonwealth will continue to have fights over competing programs and limited resources at the expense of our most fragile population of our state.

Thomas Drooger is the executive director of the Stevens Treatment Programs in Swansea. He is also a past president of the Massachusetts Association of Chapter 766 Approved Private Schools.

Originally published by THOMAS DROOGER.

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