York, PA: SPED costs: just under $12M, state funding under $2M

Dec 5, 2025, York Dispatch: York Suburban school officials grapple with new mandates despite arrival of funds 

https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/education/2025/12/05/york-suburban-school-officials-grapple-with-new-mandates-amid-arrival-of-funds/87484398007/#  

While school districts such as York Suburban are relieved to see the extra money come in from the state, they are also combing through the 21 pages of changed school code. 

While reviewing how much money York Suburban received from the recent budget passing, Superintendent Scott Krauer reaffirmed during a Nov. 24 board meeting that the district is appreciative of the increased funding. 

The state budget, which was passed four months late and delayed the federal and state funds Pennsylvanian school districts needed, allotted York Suburban an extra $181,051, which was a 2.7% increase from last year. 

The district in total raised $75.2 million in revenue, with $68 million from local revenue sources and almost $7 million from the state. 

“We’re grateful to receive an additional increase to our (Basic Education Funding), but as I mentioned, we’ve got 21 pages of mandates that came through and you can see quickly how those $185,000 are consumed rather quickly starting on Jan. 6 as we begin to implement the things that were added to our budget,” Krauser continued, while going through a PowerPoint.

The district’s special education funding also received a $69,163 increase to $1.8 million. 

However, that doesn’t cover much of what the district pays for special education. 

“The support that we’re getting from the Commonwealth is not keeping pace with the costs of supporting our special education students,” he said, explaining that the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school year budgets are just under $12 million. The state funding is under $2 million. 

Krauser said the district has been increasing in millions to support the students and satisfy the legal requirements to meet the special education needs. 

“Again, we’re appreciative of the fact that we’re getting revenues, but this just emphasizes that the costs of supporting our students and special education programs are not keeping pace with the support and resources that the Commonwealth has been providing,” Krauser continued. . .