The special education finance program administers the state's special education funding laws. The current state funding formula for K-12 services is a reimbursement system. Reporting requirements include the submission of a service plan projecting the cost of special education for the upcoming year as well as expenditure reports during the year of actual costs incurred. Program staff review expenditure reports submitted by Vermont school districts and calculate the amount of state assistance, perform audits of the special education expenditure reports to ensure that the information reported is accurate and properly documented, and oversee the distribution of federal IDEA-B and Preschool Flow Through funds to supervisory unions.
Program staff also work with the Department of Vermont Health Access on the School-based Health Services Program which allows schools to generate Medicaid reimbursement for the health-related services provided to special education students who are enrolled in Medicaid and receive eligible services in accordance with their individualized education plans (IEPs).
- IDEA 101 Subgrantee Programmatic Consideration
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B Funding
- Special Education Funding Formula Projections
- Act 173 Special Education Plan
- Special Education Expenditure Report
- Medicaid School-Based Health Services
- Special Education Cost, Average Daily Membership, Child Count by School District Report
Programmatic Consideration
This video covers considerations for IDEA Subgrantee Applications, specifically programmatic activities, work plans, and requirements concerning IDEA Basic/PreK Budgets, Proportionate Share, Coordinated Early Intervention Services, and Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervention Services.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B Funding
Vermont Annual State Application Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as Amended in 2004 for Federal Fiscal Year 2019
- Vermont Annual IDEA State Application for Federal Fiscal Year 2019
- Vermont Estimated IDEA Award Amount for Federal Fiscal Year 2019
Special Education Funding Formula Projections
The following are the FY-2020 Special Education Funding Projections based on the FY-2020 Special Education Service Plans as of December 15, 2018. The final State appropriation levels will be determined by the Legislature.
Act 173 Special Education Plan
View and download instructions and forms for Act 173 special education plan used by Vermont school districts to report their anticipated extraordinary expenditures and current year special education staff survey. This special education plan is designed to meet the requirement by law that each supervisory union/district submit a Act 173 special education plan annually to the secretary reporting their anticipated extraordinary expenditures and current year special education staff survey.
Report Forms and Submission
Forms and instructions for the FY-2026 Act 173 Special Education Plan are now available.
As outlined in the instructions, the completed forms for Sections B and D should be copied onto a secure SharePoint site. Each business manager will receive an email that contains the appropriate link for their SU/SD. If you do not receive this invite or require access to be given to an additional staff member, please email your request to AOE.SpecialEducationFinance@vermont.gov.
Any questions about the submission instructions, completing your Act 173 Special Education Plan in general, or Section B should be addressed to Jennifer Perry at AOE.SpecialEducationFinance@vermont.gov.
Any questions about Section D should be addressed to Cassidy Canzani at Cassidy.Canzani@vermont.gov.
Special Education Expenditure Report
View and download instructions and forms for special education expenditure reports used by Vermont school districts to report their special education expenditures for state funding. The deadline for submission of the Information Sheet for FY25 is October 18, 2024.