Washtenaw Intermediate School DistrictWashtenaw Intermediate School District

Special EducationSpecial EducationMillage RequestMillage Request

Tuesday, September 14, 2004Tuesday, September 14, 2004

What’s the issue?What’s the issue?

1 mill for 7 years

for Special Education Services

on

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

all children.The funds are designed to maintain quality programs

for special needs students and

offset some of the state funding reductions that affect all students.

The millage is intended to The millage is intended to benefit:benefit:

More than 7000 students

who receive special education services.

That’s 1 of every 7 students in our public schools!

The millage is intended to The millage is intended to benefit:benefit:

The millage is intended to The millage is intended to benefit:benefit:

All 48,000 students enrolled

in the public schools

Why now?Why now?

The last special education millage was passed in 1987.

Increasing numbers of general and special education students are straining available resources.

Unstable state budget + Repeated reductions in school funding + Increasing local school costs = Financial crisis for our schools!

Washtenaw County’s Washtenaw County’s student population is student population is

growinggrowing

4,435 7,002

33,327 40,451

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1988 2003

% o

f S

tud

en

ts

Special Education General Education

37,762 47,453

K-12 enrollmentK-12 enrollment1988-20031988-2003

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Total

Special education Special education enrollmentenrollment1988-20031988-2003

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Total

What special education What special education services are supported by services are supported by

the millage?the millage? Teacher consultants for children with learning

disabilities Services such as speech, occupational and physical

therapy Special education classroom teachers Special education para-professionals Assistive technology and specialized materials Training for teachers and families

What else does the What else does the millage support?millage support?

Prevention of early learning failure Programs and activities supporting high

expectations for all students Special education and general education students

learning together Increased parent and student participation in

educational decisions Transition support from school to college, work

and the activities of adult life.

Who are the special Who are the special education students in education students in Washtenaw County?Washtenaw County?

December 1, 2003December 1, 2003

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000 Specific Learning Disability

Speech/Language Impairment

Emotional Impairment

Cognitive Impairment

Physical Impairment

Other Health Impairment

Autism

E.C.Deve lopmental De lay

Severe Multiple Impairment

Hearing Impairment

Visual Impairment

Traumatic Brain Injury

Deaf/Blind

Special Education by Special Education by DisabilityDisability

in Milan Area Schools in Milan Area Schools December 1, 2003December 1, 2003

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160 Specific Learning Disability

Speech/Language Impairment

Emotional Impairment

Cognitive Impairment

Physical Impairment

Other Health Impairment

Autism

E.C.Deve lopmental De lay

Severe Multiple Impairment

Hearing Impairment

Visual Impairment

Traumatic Brain Injury

How does countywide How does countywide special education funding special education funding

work?work? About $30 million of the ISD Act 18 fund is

now distributed annually to local districts. After federal and state dollars, this covers

about 67% of the added cost of educating students with disabilities.

The authorized millage rate is 3.5 mills. WISD now levies 2.9545 mills due to Headlee rollbacks. Last year’s levy was 2.9724 mills.

How do local school districts How do local school districts pay for special education pay for special education

services now?services now?

Federal

State

ISD Act 18

Local GeneralFund

26%

10%21%

43%

10%

26%

51%

13%

Federal State ISD Local

10%

26%

40%

24%

Federal State ISD Local

What would these proportions be in 2004-05 with and without passage of the millage?

With Millage Without Millage

Special education funds Special education funds cover a percentage of the cover a percentage of the

costscosts The Special Education Fund has never completely

covered the cost of special education programs; the General Fund budget of the local school district has always absorbed a portion of the cost.

The 2003-04 reimbursement rate is 67%. The 2004-05 school year reimbursement rate will go down to about 62% (without additional millage).

Milan Area SchoolsMilan Area Schools2004 – 2005 Estimates2004 – 2005 Estimates

Without With Additional Millage Additional

MillageSpecial Education Services (Est. 7% Inc.)Est. Claim to WISD Special Ed Fund $2,162,318 $2,162,318Services Covered Through Federal Grants 425,130 425,130

$2,587,448 $2,587,448Special Education RevenuesState Funding - 618,721 - 618,721Federal Grants - 425,130 - 425,130WISD Reimbursement - 957,030 - 1,234,878

Local Revenues Needed to Cover the Balance of Special Education Services 586,567 308,719

Increase in Funding to Milan Schools With Additional Millage +$277,848

Milan Area SchoolsMilan Area Schools7-Year Millage Funding 7-Year Millage Funding

SummarySummary Estimated Additional

*Assumes an annual 7% Increase in Special Education Costs Funding with Special

Education Millage

2004-05 $ 277,848

2005-06 412,912

2006-07 441,816

2007-08 510,563

2008-09 546,302

2009-10 627,842

2010-11 671,792

Total Estimated Additional Funding to

Milan Schools with Special Education Millage $3,489,075

What does this mean for What does this mean for our school district?our school district?

The additional revenue received from a special education millage increase will be the equivalent of 5 teachers for our schools.

1 mill for 7 years to help maintain quality programs for all children in Washtenaw

County public schools.

What’s the issue?What’s the issue?

Residents in the school districts of: Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Lincoln,

Manchester, Milan, Saline, Whitmore Lake, Willow Run and Ypsilanti

Who can vote?Who can vote?

Milan Middle School

920 North Street

Where do I vote?Where do I vote?

When do I vote?When do I vote?

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

7:00am - 8:00 pm

Call: WISD at (734) 994-8100

Visit: http://www.wash.k12.mi.us

Call: Superintendents Office 439-5050

Visit: www.milanareaschools.org

Want more information?Want more information?

Thank You!Thank You!

Please remember to Vote!