The School District of Lancaster County had to open six new classrooms this year because the special education student population increased again.
That means additional expenses included six teachers, about 18 paraprofessionals, higher transportation costs, and more speech, language, occupational and physical therapy. Five years ago, the special education population was about 18%. This year, it’s 23%. The district’s student population is over 10,000.
Charles Hample, School District of Lancaster’s director of special education, said the state’s additional funding of about $430,000 from the state budget passed this summer “doesn’t even come close to matching” the district’s additional expenses…