South Middleton School District - Special Education

Special Education

In December 2010, South Middleton School District Administration reported that 15.5% of students or 344 children received special education services, with 43.9% of identified students having a specific learning disability. In December 2009, the District reported that 15.7% of students or 347 children received special education services. The South Middleton School District provides a variety of opportunities for the screening and evaluation of students thought to have disabilities.

In 2010-11, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving 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 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.

South Middleton School District received a $970,186 supplement for special education services in 2010. For the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, 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.