December 28th, 2011 by WCBC Radio
According to one estimate, the Allegany County Board of Education sends special education students to private schools at a rate of $46,000 per pupil, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars annually on tuition, transportation and legal fees for about 75 students. Once the school system, or an independent hearing officer, decides that the county cannot provide the federally mandated "free and appropriate public education" to a student in the least restrictive environment, he or she is entitled to a private placement at public expense. Non public placements, as they are called, are making a major dent in the school board’s budget- and help is being sought from the state. During a meeting this month between the District One legislative delegation and the school board’s of Allegany and Garrett counties- it was a priority identified by both systems. Allegany County School Board President Mike Llewellyn…
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