Lancaster, PA: District cannot provide autism support "in its current structured classrooms"

Feb 24, 2026, Lancaster Online: Manheim Central school board continues to develop options to accommodate special education population

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/manheim-central-school-board-continues-to-develop-options-to-accommodate-special-education-population/article_dcc757e9-2277-4182-b03b-3f53a9261fec.html

When: Manheim Central school board meeting, Feb. 23

What happened: The board heard additional information on options to address the district’s growing special needs population, but took no action.

More: Keisha McCauley, director of special education, provided the follow-up on discussion with revised costs from the board’s Feb. 2 meeting.

Background: McCauley said the district’s special education population has increased from 16.4% to 19.4% since 2023; 457 students in 2023 to 531 students now. She said the district cannot accommodate the needs of autism support students in its current structured classrooms, and outside placements are costly. Additionally, there is currently no availability in outside programs.

Options: One of three options could be implemented for 2026-27. Each of the options would impact the district’s budget. McCauley said each of the options includes additional district staff including a school psychologist, a special education coordinator and an administrative assistant. She said the district is aware that five seats in a K-2 autism support class would be required for next school year.

Option one: Another option would require an expenditure of $832,221 for the district to open a K-2 autism support classroom and address staff needs for K-2 special education students. This would allow students to stay at Manheim Central, and the district could offer unused seats to other districts, she said.

Second option: The district could contract with New Story to open K-2 autism support classes with eight seats in a district school. Estimated cost is $858,811. This option would allow students to stay at Manheim Central, while New Story handles classroom staff, day-to-day staffing and training, McCauley said. However, the number of seats allocated to the district would be defined by the agreement, and the district would be responsible for services such as psychology, and speech, occupational and physical therapy. Any unused seats could be offered to other school districts. Superintendent Ryan Axe said Elizabethtown Area School District has expressed interest in two of the seats, and tuition income from those seats could reduce the cost.

Third option: The third option would be to contract with Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 to for five autism K-2 support seats. Estimated cost would be $570,436. . . .