Bill > HB1548

This bill requires the New Hampshire Department of Education to collect and publish a comprehensive report on special education costs across various educational institutions. Specifically, the report must detail the expenses associated with providing special education services and related support for children with disabilities, breaking down the costs by school district and provider type—including public schools, charter schools, public academies, joint maintenance agreements, state facilities, and private special education providers. The report must also include related transportation expenses. If the department does not currently have all the required data, it is mandated to publish the available information and develop rules requiring school districts to report the remaining data. The bill aims to increase transparency about special education spending and will take effect 60 days after its passage. While the bill does not provide additional funding or authorize new positions, the Department of Education acknowledges that implementing these reporting requirements may necessitate additional staff resources to analyze and organize the data, though the exact staffing and cost implications are currently indeterminate.