Manheim, PA: 182% increase in autistic students in 10 yrs

Feb 5, 2026, Lancaster Online: Manheim Central school board mulls options to accommodate growing special education population

https://lancasteronline.com/news/lititz/manheim-central-school-board-mulls-options-to-accommodate-growing-special-education-population/article_58a7ea8c-57e0-4dc3-be6f-ddea22c5c50e.html 

When: Manheim Central school board meeting, Feb. 2. The meeting was postponed from Jan. 26 due to inclement weather. School board member Michelle Gingrich was absent

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

Background: The need for special education is also growing statewide, Keisha McCauley, special education director, said. Information from a 2025 Pennsylvania School Boards Association report indicates that in the 2023-24 school year nearly 337,000 students, or 20.1% of students, received special education programs and services. That number represents a 25.1% increase over the last 10 years.

More: In Manheim Central, the increase from the 2014-15 school year to the 2024-25 school year was 68.5%; or 351 students to 512 students, she said. During that same 10-year period, the number of students needing autism support increased from 38 to 107, or by 181.6%.

Why it matters: The district special education department cannot accommodate students with autism in its current classrooms, McCauley said. There are two IU13 classes at Doe Run Elementary that offer autism support, but that includes both Manheim Central students and students from outside the district. Additionally, placements in other programs such as IU13 or New Story Schools are costly and there is no availability, she said.

Options: One of three options could be implemented for 2026-27. Each of the options would impact the district’s budget. The least costly option of $250,000 would add new staff, including a school psychologist and an administrative assistant. This option would address staffing needs, but would not include an autism support class.

Second option: Another option would require an expenditure of $817,040 for the district to open a K-2 autism support classroom and address staff needs for K-12 special education students. This would allow students to stay at Manheim Central, and the district could offer unused seats to other districts, she said.

Third option: The district could contract with New Story to open K-2 autism support classes in a district school. Estimated cost is $500,390. 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.

What’s next: School board members asked for additional information regarding how many students need autism support services, and where they are receiving those services. McCauley said she will gather that information and report back. . . .