Arizona special-ed funding benefits schools with fewest special-ed students
By Alia Beard Rau • The Republic / azcentral.com
PLC Arts Academy at Scottsdale has $5,000 more to spend per student than Pine Strawberry Elementary District north of Payson.
It’s not because its students are in one of Arizona’s most well-to-do cities, or that they perform better on state tests, or that more kids are enrolled.
It’s a direct result of how the state funds education for students with special needs: Arizona’s spending on special education benefits schools with the fewest number of students who require it.
About one-third of Arizona students attend schools — most of which are charters — that receive more state money to serve students with special needs than those schools actually spend for that purpose.
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Category: Education
