Bill > H4141

This bill aims to improve special education finance by establishing a process for annual price adjustments for contractors providing special education goods and services within the commonwealth, calculated by adding a per-student adjustment to the current authorized price, determined by the operational services division based on actual cost components. It also modifies provisions related to school construction projects, prioritizing those needed for transitions from court-ordered racial balance districts to local districts and for creating space for in-district special education programs, and incentivizes projects that include such spaces. Furthermore, approved private special education schools and programs funded by the commonwealth will be required to file annual financial reports and independent audits with the department of elementary and secondary education and the state auditor, disclosing various financial details and program effectiveness, including whether student Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are being met. The bill also mandates that the division of purchased services develop regulations for pricing approved special education programs to support direct care staff recruitment and retention and improve instructional resources, ensuring salaries and benefits are comparable to public sector employees and that pricing adjustments are made promptly and not based on out-of-state or prior year revenues.