DECEMBER 15, 2015 Student Support Services

Special Education ● Nursing/Health Services ● Guidance ● METCO ● ELL ● Translation and Interpretation Services ● Homeless Students & Families ● Home School Education

WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH TELL US? High Impact Students

Impact of medical technology & prenatal care Advances in prenatal care have resulted in increased survival rates for infants born extremely premature Increased risk for neurodevelopmental and behavioral impairments Children born at 23 weeks are likely to have severe impairments compared to those born between weeks

Autism Spectrum Disorder 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder Children with ASD have more problems with early learning, challenging behaviors, and interacting with others The picture of ASD continues to change  Almost half diagnosed are average or above average IQ compared to 10 years ago Diagnosis is most often occurring after age 4 Research is needed to identify factors that put children at risk for ASD

Childhood Mental Health Diagnosis Serious challenge in the ways children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions Symptoms can start early or develop throughout the teen years 1 in 5 children experience a mental disorder

Impact of mental health diagnosis Disability impacts safety Disability impacts ability to engage in school in a general education setting Disability impacts school attendance

DESE Analysis of OOD Placements Students are more likely to be placed out OOD: At the middle and high school level Due to emotional disturbance & safety concerns Students placed unilaterally by parents From substantially separate placements Lack of interagency collaboration leads to students placed residentially at cost to school districts

DESE Priorities Improve general education approaches to discipline & behavior Promote inclusion and universal design for learning Improve high school options for students with disabilities Establish a stronger system to promote interagency coordination and resolve interagency disputes

HOW IS NEEDHAM TRENDING COMPARED TO SIMILAR COMMUNITIES? ENROLLMENT

Special Education Pupils as % Total Enrollment

Special Education Enrollment by Grade Level

Percentage of Students by Disability Category

Out of District Special Education Enrollment

Comparable Communities: SpEd Pupils as % Total Enrollment (FY14)

HOW IS NEEDHAM TRENDING COMPARED TO SIMILAR COMMUNITIES? Special Education Costs

Needham’s SpEd Out of District Tuition Expenses Increasing Steadily

Special Education Out of District Tuition by Funding Source

Special Education Expenses as % of Budget

Comparable Communities: SpEd Expenditures as % budget

Out of District Tuition Expenditures as % Total Budget

Comparable Community: Out of District Tuition as % Budget

Comparisons

HOW IS NEEDHAM TRENDING COMPARED TO SIMILAR COMMUNITIES? Special Education Transportation

Per Pupil Transportation Costs

Comparable Communities: Per Pupil Transportation Costs

Analysis of OOD Transportation Per pupil expenses have climbed steadily since 2008 Comparatively, we pay more per pupil than our 20 comparison communities. Comparatively, we are on the higher end of per pupil costs for the BICO, LABB and Accept Transportation Groups

Analysis of OOD Transportation Questions to Answer: What beneficial effect, if any, has joining BICO had on Needham’s transportation costs? Is Needham’s price per mile significantly different than other districts?

TO RESPOND TO STUDENTS WITH COMPLEX AND HIGH IMPACT NEEDS TO RESPOND TO INCREASES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION ENROLLMENT TO STRENGTHEN IN-DISTRICT CAPACITY TO MEET STUDENT NEEDS TO RESPOND TO INCREASED OOD & TRANSPORTATION COSTS BUDGET DRIVERS & REQUESTS

Budget Requests Enrollment Driven Requests:.3 Guidance Counselor – Hillside $29,742.2 Psychologist – Mitchell $11,820.5 Middle School BCBA $29,550.3 Nurse – High School $29,244.3 Wilson Reading Instructor $18,230

Budget Requests Pathways High School Therapeutic Program  $105, Special Education Teacher 1.0 Clinical Counselor 1.0 Teaching Assistant

Budget Requests Out of District Tuition Increase  $3,844, Total Request  18% increase from FY16  $583,182 additional funding request Transportation $97,089 Total Request  3% Contractual Rate Increase All Vendors ($52,753)  Increase in student placements ($44,336)

Questions?