The document summarizes the key budget drivers for the Franklin Public Schools district, with the largest expenses being salaries (75% of budget) and health insurance (8% of budget). Special education accounts for 16.7% of total enrollment and is a major cost driver due to tuition for out-of-district placements, transportation, and staffing costs for programs and services. The district strives to provide services to students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment possible while balancing student needs with fiscal responsibility.

1. Franklin Public Schools School Budget Drivers Salary Health Insurance Transportation Special Education

2. Salaries and benefits account for 83% of the 2012 budget Source: Franklin Public Schools Note: Other Expenses include Materials, PD and Contracted Services Total 2012 Budget $51,410,000

3. Salary Budget 75% of Budget Salary Steps and Lanes Contractual Obligations Course reimbursement Longevity payments

4. Health Insurance 8% of Budget Re-design of Health Plans=Lower Costs

5. Transportation Current cost of contracts – 2.4M Pay to Ride In- district Special Education Out of district Special Education Transportation

6. Revolving Accounts and Grants ARRA and Ed. Jobs funding Entitlement Grants - Supplement NOT Supplant Revolving accounts have specific restrictions on how they can be spent

7. Special Education Franklin Public Schools

8. Laws and Regulations Federal Law Federal Regulations State Regulations

9. Entitlement Ensures that all identified students with disabilities receive a ‘free and appropriate public education’ (FAPE) within the least restrictive environment (LRE) Ages three to high school graduation or age twenty two All decisions are made through a Team process – parents, teachers, student If student determined eligible for special education the Team develops an Individualized Educational Program (IEP)

10. The IEP Legally binding contract Describes specialized instruction Defines services and placement Is developed annually Monitors progress on identified goals

11. Franklin Facts Franklin offers a full continuum of services Franklin strives to keep students in the public schools – Least Restrictive Environment Enrollment 5969 SPED 997 (16.7%) ELL 94 (1.57%) ELL/SPED 6 (0.1%) Home/Hospital Tutoring 16 (0.27%) Homeless 6 (0.10%) SPED Out of District 78

12. Continuum of Services In District Programs: Full Inclusion Program Partial Inclusion Program Substantially Separate Classroom Out-of-District Programs: Public Day School (9100 line) /Collaborative (9400 line) Private Day School (9300 line) Residential School (9300 line) Out of State Programs (9200 line)

13. Educational Collaboratives Educational Collaboratives are public entities comprised of member school districts who join together to develop cost effective programming for low incidence student populations FPS belongs to two Educational Collaboratives: BiCounty (BICO) Collaborative and ACCEPT Collaborative

14. Factors Impacting Special Educational Costs Programmatic Needs Early Intervention Programs for children from birth – 3 who contend with disabilities Pre-School program requirements Health Services/Medically Fragile students Increased number of At-Risk students DCF/Homeless/Families in Poverty or distress

15. Largest Cost Drivers Special Education faculty: teachers, specialists, therapists Out of District Tuitions range from $24,000 - $247,000 Transportation costs range from $5,000 - $67,000

16. Transportation Costs Costs are sole responsibility of the district Costs are not reimbursable under Circuit Breaker Transportation costs may exceed tuition costs for some students Transportation for Homeless students is a district responsibility Remedy – DESE should allow us to include costs in circuit breaker calculation.

17. Transportation Services Under the Law, school districts are mandated to provide transportation to students with disabilities in the same manner as it would for all students If the child is placed away from the local school, transportation must be provided If due to a disability the child requires special transportation in order to participate in services, the school must provide it

18. Unpredictable Costs Students moving into the district from out of state Students moving into the district prior to April 1 but after the development of the budget Students requiring additional services in order to remain in the least restrictive environment Students who need emergency placements Unilateral placements Influence from State Agencies (DCF, DMH, DDS)

19. Reduced Federal Contribution to Education NCLB mandates largely unfunded 94-142 adopted in 1975 – goal was 100% of costs supported by federal funds Current contribution is about 40% Grant funds reduced or level funded Small increases have not kept pace with rising programmatic costs

20. Grant Funds Grant monies: Are outside of Operational Budget Are regulated with mandated usage Must supplement, not supplant, operational budget Special Education Entitlement ( Fund Code 240 ) = $1,200,993 Special Education Professional Development ( Fund Code 274 ) = $70,470

21. Current OOD Tuitions (As of 1/6/12) MA Public Schools: $ 148,023 Collaboratives: $ 986,653 Day Programs: $ 2,086,777 Residential Programs: $ 2,292,582 Total: $ 5,514,035

22. Circuit Breaker Provides local $$ relief to offset costs of programs for students with intensive needs Proposed Plan (2004) – 90% reimbursement for costs exceeding 3X Foundation Implemented Plan (2004) – 75% reimbursement for costs exceeding 4X Foundation

23. Other Cost Drivers Contractual Services Psychological Services Adapted Equipment/Assistive Technology Independent Educational Evaluations Legal cases/hearings Emergency Evaluation and Placement needs

24. The moral of the story … Special Education spending is a moving target based on many variables

25. Balancing Act—Doing what’s right for kids & being fiscally responsible Student Needs The Budget