Cost as a Factor in Determining an Appropriate Special Education Program or Placement.

Overview & Synopsis

Law and court decisions concerning cost as a factor in determining an appropriate special education program or placement are reviewed. The historical context is briefly considered, including numbers of students needing and receiving special education services for 1976-77 and 1992-93 as well as public expenditures for special education in 1987-88 and amount per child adjusted for inflation for 1992. Legal decisions are identified that pertain to: government and private sources of special education funds, third party payments, consideration of costs for the individualized education plan team meeting, the meaning of free appropriate public education, failure to find a qualified provider, paying for evaluations, cost issues in shortened school days and transportation, cost as a factor in determining appropriate medical and school health services and in placement determinations, and whether cost can be a consideration under the Americans with Disabilities Act. A brief summary and recommendations conclude the review. (SW)