This fall, the California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), a non-partisan adviser to the California Legislature, is reaching out to local education agencies (LEAs) across the state to discuss potential changes to special education funding and governance.
Major reforms are anticipated in the upcoming 2022-23 state budget discussions due to recently adopted budget language that signals statutory changes to how special education funds are allocated.
Additionally, the research organization WestEd recently released its recommendations to change how the state allocates special education funding to (1) move towards a weighted formula by disability categories and (2) allocate funding directly to LEAs, rather than special education local plan areas.
The LAO would like to learn how these recommendations might affect your LEA. If you’re interested in providing input, please complete the LAO’s special education questionnaire, or check this online calendar to schedule a 45-minute meeting with the LAO, by Friday, October 29, 2021.
For more information about the project, you may contact LAO Senior Fiscal & Policy Analyst Amy Li at amy.li@lao.ca.gov.