Scranton, PA: "With the growing demand for special education. . .districts face rising SPED costs"

Oct 28, 2026, Fox 56, Wilkes-Barre, PA: Local lawmakers and school leaders tackle education issues at Scranton roundtable

From funding challenges to special education and cyber charter schools, local lawmakers and school officials gathered in Scranton Wednesday to address some of the biggest issues facing education across the region.

Funding was a major topic of discussion. Scranton School District Superintendent Dr. Erin Keating said she knows firsthand the challenges of limited funding, recalling times when making payroll was uncertain. Now, she says the district is in a much healthier financial position following its financial recovery. . . .

With the growing demand for special education, Representative Bridget Kosierowski raised concerns about the increasing number of students entering school with medical diagnoses, stressing the need for better identification of their needs as districts face rising special education costs.

“I think we have to do a better job with our family doctors, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and actually diagnosing these little ones. The school district children are coming with a list of diagnostic ICD codes. It’s very difficult. I think we’ve gotten into a situation here in the medical field with diagnostic codes for children coming off to school is growing at a great rate,” said Kosierowski. . . .