FY 2016 Appropriation

State Programs provide funding for special education programs in state institutions as well as for district impact aid. Impact aid is provided to districts and charter schools "to support districts in serving special education students whose extensive needs cost the district more than $15,000 per student" (USOE Finance & Statistics, MSP Descriptions, November 2006).

In FY 2012, the Extended Year for Special Educators program was combined into the Special Education State Programs. The Extended Year program retains its statutory authorization and program structure. A total of 909 Weighted Pupil Units were assigned to the program. Please refer to the Extended Year for Special Educators description in the Related to Basic School Program for more details.

Funding History

Funding Issues

Enrollment Growth

Total enrollment in the public education system is projected to increase by 7,951 students in FY 2016, with a total enrollment of 630,104. Additional students in the system increases the cost to certain programs as designated by statute or legislative precedent. Adjustments are made in the following programs based on consensus enrollment and WPU estimates: Basic School Program: $24,284,600 Funds an additional 8,380 WPUs in FY 2016. Related to Basic School Program: $10,698,800 Provides a 1.3% increase to the following programs: Pupil Transportation, Enhancement for At-Risk Students, Youth-in-Custody, Adult Education, Enhancement for Accelerated Students, and Concurrent Enrollment. Provides an increase of $4,459,600 to the Local Replacement and $83,200 to the Administrative Cost programs for charter schools. Finally, increases th eamount for the Educator Salary Adjustment by $3,429,500 to account for additional teachers hired by LEAs in fall 2014. Voted & Board Local Levy: $23,023,600 Adjusts funding levels to provide the state guarante rate for all qualifying WPUs. Increases the state guarantee rate as provided in statute from $27.92 per WPU to $30.11 per WPU. The total local property tax revenue contribution to the cost of the Basic School Program is expected to increase by $8,462,600 in FY 2016. This amount works as an off-set to the total increased cost of the Basic School Program above.

Special Ed Intensive Services

Provides additional funding to reimburse LEAs for students that cost more than 3 times the state average. LEAs must apply to the USOE for funding and demonstrate that they have expended sufficient funding to receive a reimbursement. LEAs can receive additional reimbursement for costs over $20,000 a year for a student. Currently, the state has approximately $1,225,000 to fund reimbursements, with $1,000,000 coming from Federal IDEA and the remaining from state the state appropriation for Special Education State Programs. With this funding, LEAs are reimbursed for 12 percent of their costs in excess of the base threshold. Estimates indicate that to reimburse for all costs over the threshold would cost approximately $28 million. An additional $10 million will reimburse approximately 40 percent of costs.
Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $10,073,700 from all sources for Special Education - State Programs. This is a 16.6 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $10,073,700 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 16.6 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time Enrollment Growth$80,200$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$80,200$0Education Fund
Total enrollment in the public education system is projected to increase by 7,951 students in FY 2016, with a total enrollment of 630,104. Additional students in the system increases the cost to certain programs as designated by statute or legislative precedent. Adjustments are made in the following programs based on consensus enrollment and WPU estimates: Basic School Program: $24,284,600 Funds an additional 8,380 WPUs in FY 2016. Related to Basic School Program: $10,698,800 Provides a 1.3% increase to the following programs: Pupil Transportation, Enhancement for At-Risk Students, Youth-in-Custody, Adult Education, Enhancement for Accelerated Students, and Concurrent Enrollment. Provides an increase of $4,459,600 to the Local Replacement and $83,200 to the Administrative Cost programs for charter schools. Finally, increases th eamount for the Educator Salary Adjustment by $3,429,500 to account for additional teachers hired by LEAs in fall 2014. Voted & Board Local Levy: $23,023,600 Adjusts funding levels to provide the state guarante rate for all qualifying WPUs. Increases the state guarantee rate as provided in statute from $27.92 per WPU to $30.11 per WPU. The total local property tax revenue contribution to the cost of the Basic School Program is expected to increase by $8,462,600 in FY 2016. This amount works as an off-set to the total increased cost of the Basic School Program above.
Special Ed Intensive Services$1,001,800$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$1,001,800$0Education Fund
Provides additional funding to reimburse LEAs for students that cost more than 3 times the state average. LEAs must apply to the USOE for funding and demonstrate that they have expended sufficient funding to receive a reimbursement. LEAs can receive additional reimbursement for costs over $20,000 a year for a student. Currently, the state has approximately $1,225,000 to fund reimbursements, with $1,000,000 coming from Federal IDEA and the remaining from state the state appropriation for Special Education State Programs. With this funding, LEAs are reimbursed for 12 percent of their costs in excess of the base threshold. Estimates indicate that to reimburse for all costs over the threshold would cost approximately $28 million. An additional $10 million will reimburse approximately 40 percent of costs.
WPU Value Increase (4%)$352,100$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$352,100$0Education Fund
It costs approximately $26 million for each 1 percent increase or decrease in the WPU Value. Programs impacted include: The Basic School Program (all WPUs), Pupil Transportation, Concurrent Enrollment, Enhancement for At-Risk Students, Youth-in-Custody, Enhancement for Accelerated Students in the Related to Basic School Program.
Statute

Please refer to the statutory provisions and State Board of Education rules identified in the previous Special Education sections.

Intent Language

HB0002: Item 1

The Legislature intends that the State Board of Education develop minimum program standards, including maximum class size limits in grades K-3, that local education agencies must meet in order to continue to receive Class Size Reduction funding. Including an estimate of the cost necessary to limit class sizes in grades K-3, without impacting class sizes in grades 4-12. The Legislature also intends that the State Board of Education report these standards and estimated costs to the Education Interim Committee and the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee by October 31, 2015.

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COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.