15-236

15-236. Cost study of special education programs; program and fiscal audits

A. The department of education shall by December 1, 1981 and every two years thereafter complete a cost study of special education programs. Such study shall include, but is not limited to, the cost of providing special education programs to pupils prescribed by section 15-761.

B. The department of education shall conduct program and fiscal audits of selected district special education programs. The audits shall be designed to determine the degree of compliance with existing statutes and regulations and the appropriate placement of students in special education programs. A report of the findings of such audits shall be completed on or before January 3 of each year. If the department of education determines that a child has been inappropriately placed in a special education program of a school district, the district's weighted student count for educational support services for students in group B as provided in section 15-943 shall be recomputed and the district's entitlement to state aid adjusted accordingly.

C. For each fiscal year the department of education shall request a separate line item appropriation for program and fiscal audits of special education programs in the budget estimate submitted pursuant to section 35-113.