Bill > S1569

This bill, known as the "Fairness in Special Education Funding for Student Success Act," provides for direct State payment of the cost of special education and related services for certain students with disabilities. The key provisions include: - The State Department of Education will assume responsibility for entering into contracts with and making direct payments to providers of special education services for students with disabilities who require the most expensive ("high needs") placements, defined as those with projected costs exceeding $55,000 per year. - The Department will establish an Office of High Needs Placement Funding to handle these contracts and payments, and a High Needs Placement Committee to develop quality ratings for providers and analyze data on special education costs and outcomes. - For students in high needs placements, the State will deduct the associated costs from the student's resident school district's state aid, while providing the district with extraordinary special education aid in the first year to ease the transition. - The State Board of Education will develop regulations to implement the new system, while private special education providers will not be subject to certain fiscal and operational requirements as a condition of reimbursement. The overall goal is for the State to take on greater responsibility for funding and overseeing the most expensive special education placements to ensure equitable access and efficient use of resources statewide.

Education

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/S1569