PRESS RELEASE - 1/11/03
50/50 Program State Reimbursement Issue
Note to Members: "On behalf of the Executive Board and its members, the following Press Release was sent to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, the Berkshire Eagle, the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, the Union-News, the Cohasset Mariner and the Newton TAB regarding the "50/50" program funding issue resulting from the Massachusetts Department of Education recent notification of lack of sufficient funds to meet cost sharing, of students placed in residential placements for educational reasons, with the public schools.
From the Massachusetts Administrators for Special
Education (ASE)
Unanticipated Special Education Expenditures, FY03: ("50/50"
Program)
Letter to the Editor
The Massachusetts Administrators of Special Education (ASE), Executive
Board, is deeply concerned and troubled by the recent announcement from
the Department of Education (MA) regarding special education funding for
FY03. The lack of sufficient funds to cost share residential
(educational) placements for special education students for the fourth
quarter of this fiscal year (with the public schools) and the timing of
the notification creates immediate concern and undue uncertainty for
students, parents / guardians and school districts. Central to our
concerns, but not limited to them are the following:
| 1. | How will school districts (already fiscally burdened) be able to fund (in full) the fourth quarter payments for students who are residentially placed (in the 50/50) programs when there were no FY03 local appropriations for it or appropriate time to plan for the shortfall created by the decision? | ||
| 2. | What will the effect of a delayed payment be on the private special education residential schools and special needs students attending them, if school systems are not able to fund the fourth quarter payment in part or in full? | ||
| 3. | Why has DOE not requested the increased funding for the 50/50 account to meet the need of the increases associated with the cost share program to offset the projected deficit? | ||
| 4. | If State and Federal funds are available, as DOE indicates, why are the funds not being released during this fiscal year to fund the residential students in the 50/50 program to meet the commitment? |
We are gathering important data to look at the impact of the DOE decision. In the spirit of collaboration, we are committed to working with other organizations such as The Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, and the Massachusetts Association of School Committees in working on an immediate resolve to the current "50/50" program dilemma. Recognizing that the State's fiscal issues are real and not easily solvable, we also recognize that through collaborative efforts, in difficult fiscal times, better and more timely solutions can be obtained than if one organization or agency proceeds singularly in the definition of the problem, the understanding of it and the possible solutions to it. We are committed to working rigorously on the "50/50" shortfall problem to ensure an immediate fiscal remedy for our most severely and in need eligible special education students.
Submitted by:
Dr. Karen Watts, President and Carla B. Jentz, Executive Director
Massachusetts Administrators for Special Education ASE