Editorial: State sticks it to counties, again, on special ed

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It has never made much sense to have counties pay for pre-k special education, but that’s the way New York state has chosen to do it since it opted into the federal program 20 years ago. This is a huge cost to the counties, which don’t even have control over the program — school districts do. As unfunded mandates go, it’s a whopper. And the state has just added to the burden by making the counties wholly responsible for administrative costs connected to the program.

The change was driven by the state Education Department’s interpretation of new federal regulations, which supposedly no longer allow federal dollars to cover these administrative costs. In the past, the federal money went directly to school districts, with counties paying for any costs above and beyond, and getting reimbursed by the state for about 60 percent of their contribution. The reimbursement will remain the same, but now the counties will have to absorb what was the federal share as well as their own.

This wouldn’t be so bad if the Legislature had accepted a provision in the Executive Budget (first proposed by a special task force on special education appointed by former Gov. Spitzer last year) to cap counties’ spending on pre-k special ed. It would have capped annual growth at 4 percent for the 2008-09 school year and 3 percent for 2009-10, saving counties an estimated $20 million in the coming year and $90 million by 2011-12.

But as it is, the change just represents another $3.8 million in unanticipated costs for counties around the state — in addition to the hundreds of millions they’re already paying for pre-k special ed.

The state had originally planned to shift the cost to the school districts (chickening out when the teachers union and school boards association screamed). That wouldn’t have been much better, since it would have led to increased pressure on already-onerous property taxes. But the school districts at least have gotten huge increases in state aid the last couple of years — and they, unlike the counties, are in the education business.

comments

July 8, 2008 4:05 p.m.

barry51 ( no real name given ) says... (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

July 9, 2008 5 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]

coachmike ( no real name given ) says... The state has the right to endorse what ever program they want and will do that at there opportunity. I think you will find as time progresses that any special ed program or welfare itself , the state government is finding that if the money is not there then the counties will have to pick up the tab or abandone the program all together then it will be up to the parent to take over the financial responcibility all together. Remember the government of the state is not a babysitting program, people are responcible to raise themselves.

July 12, 2008 7:56 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]

annarondac ( no real name given ) says... Having a child under the protection and schooling of a parent is far better than leaving it up to the state. Having the state (meaning every one of you who pay taxes) support pre-K is absurd. I would like to see Kindergarden elective. It does not take a community to raise a child, which smacks at socialism, it takes a family, mom, dad, siblings and grandparents.