Seymour, IN: City schools see increase of 250 SPED students in five years

Jan 21, 2018, Seymour (IN) Tribune: Special needs students increase: Seymour Community Schools seeing growth in funds to provide services http://www.tribtown.com/2018/01/22/01222018st_special_education_count/ The number of students identified with special needs in Seymour Community Schools has grown by 250 students over the past five years. That increase has resulted in nearly $800,000 more in state funding to provide services for students with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. According to the district’s Dec. 1, 2017, special education student count, there are 928 students receiving special education services. They generated $2,917,338 in state financial support for the rest of the school year and the first half of the 2018-19 school year. That’s 21 students and $142,238 more than the 2016-17 school year, said Mika Ahlbrand, special education director. She credits the growth in special education numbers to the overall growth in the district and success in implementing effective practices to identify children with special needs early on. … There are three levels with Category 1 receiving the most, $8,800, per student. For Seymour Community School Corp., this category includes 138 students with vision or hearing impairments, autism and traumatic brain injuries. Category 2 generates $2,300 per student and includes 563 students with learning disorders, mild and moderate cognitive disabilities and other health impairments and Category 3 receives $500 per student and includes 355 students with language or speech impairments. Preschool students generate $2,750 per student. … The district’s autism numbers increased by five students and have grown by 21 since 2013.