Montour School District - Special Education

Special Education

In December 2010, the district administration reported that 430 pupils or 14.5% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with 48% of the identified students having a specific learning disability. In December 2009, the district administration reported that 449 pupils or 15% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding. The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the district’s students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student’s needs accrue the same level of costs. The state requires each district to have a three year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students. Overidentification of students, in order to increase state funding, has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.

Montour School District received a $1,590,019 supplement for special education services in 2010. For the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010-11. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.