The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) notified local school districts that the level of state aid for “extraordinary costs” related to special education would be reduced once again. “Extraordinary costs” aid for special education was established more than a decade ago as an additional source of state aid for districts facing special education costs of more than $40,000 for a single student.
The percentage of this aid provided to districts has been declining. In FY 2015-16, the state covered 58 percent of eligible extraordinary costs, down from 63 percent last year. In 2012, NJDOE covered 77 percent.
While State special education funding for “extraordinary costs” held steady at $165 million, the number of students with disabilities eligible for the aid increased in recent years. The aid is provided to districts to help offset costs for more than 13,200 students. Most of New Jersey’s 600 plus school districts receive at least some extraordinary aid, and nearly 50 districts receive more than $1M each.
http://education.state.nj.us/broadcasts/2015/JUL/07/13825/Exaid%202014-15.pdf
