Bill > S261

This bill establishes a pre-special education referral reimbursement program to help municipalities reduce referrals for special education services related to reading and literacy problems by funding qualified literacy intervention programs. These programs are defined as early intervention initiatives for first-grade students identified as at risk of not learning to read, and they must demonstrate effectiveness through published research. The program will reimburse municipalities for half of the eligible instructional costs, which include salaries for educational and related services personnel, and costs for specialized books, materials, and equipment, but exclude transportation, administrative, overhead, and fringe benefit costs. School districts must report these costs to the department, which will review and approve them, and then calculate the reimbursement. Districts are required to notify the department of any changes in approved costs or student enrollment. The bill also mandates that school districts project program costs and enrollments for budget recommendations, excluding eligible instructional costs from their own budget proposals, with reimbursements being recorded as additional appropriations. Furthermore, districts seeking reimbursement must track and report the number of students in grades 1-3, special education referrals for literacy, and overall referral percentages, with continued reimbursement contingent on demonstrating a reduction in special education literacy referrals or measurable improvement in literacy scores on statewide assessments. Reimbursements will be made quarterly based on the previous year's per-pupil instructional costs, subject to appropriation and departmental audits.