Lancaster, PA: 23% of students have special needs; 6 more SPED classes to be added

June 4, 2026, Fox43: Rising special education costs hit PA school districts as federal funding fails to keep pace | fox43.com

Growing special education enrollment, federal funding gaps and recent IDEA grant cuts are driving budget pressures and tax increases across the state.

VIDEO:

As school districts across Pennsylvania finalize budgets, a number are facing difficult decisions tied to the rising cost of special education.

. . . the number of students enrolled in special education services climbed from roughly 15 percent to 21 percent over the last decade, totaling 350,000 students.

Many of these students also have more complicated needs and services that are required for them to be in those schools.

In the school district of Lancaster, special education students now make up 23 percent of the population, requiring specialized teachers, speech and occupational therapists, and other support staff. . . .

And starting next school year,  . . .the district will be opening six new special education classrooms. . . .

Over the last four years, special education costs for the district have increased by 31 percent, reaching over $46 million. . . . .

Costs are often passed on to taxpayers.  . . .