SB 1035 - This act creates the Alternative Special Needs Services Act. The act allows a school district or charter school to enter into an alternative special needs services agreement with the parent or guardian of a special needs child, who is a child with disabilities or is severely handicapped, enrolled in a public school or charter school, and whose cost of education is estimated to exceed three times the current expenditure per average daily attendance. The agreement shall allow alternative special needs services to be provided by an independent provider, either solely or in conjunction with the services provided by the school district or charter school, that results in the reduction of expenditures by the school district or charter school and reimbursement costs paid by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the educational costs of certain high-need children. The term of an agreement shall be for one school year, but may be modified or extended. The agreement may include provisions setting forth what percentage of time a special needs child shall attend a public school or charter school and what services the child's school district or charter school shall provide. No agreement shall be made that is not calculated to create financial savings to the school district or charter school and the Department.
The district or charter school shall reimburse providers of special needs services pursuant to the provisions of the agreement.
This act is substantially similar to HB 2705 (2018).
JAMIE ANDREWS