The Special Education Accountability Commission. Final Report to the Legislature, Governor [and] State Board of Education [of Nebraska].

Overview & Synopsis

This final report of the Nebraska Special Education Accountability Commission presents recommendations for reforming the state's special education system. The tasks of the commission were to develop recommendations for a new funding system for special education which would be identification and placement neutral, to encourage preventive services, to assure adequacy of funding to meet the needs of student with disabilities and those needing support services, to ensure equity in services available to students across the State, and to contain costs. The commission was also required to develop accountability recommendations. Final recommendations include: (1) a new funding system that integrates special education funding for school age and transportation programs into the State's general education equalization funding program; (2) placement of special education under the same budget limitation provision as general education; (3) tighter department definitions of educational benefit; (4) closer review and approval of the service of their party contractors; (5) new criteria for related services: (6) improved interagency cooperation in providing services for students ages 14-21; (7) having school districts set standards for student performance for all students: (8) providing appropriate modifications and accommodations for students with disabilities; (9) improved training of teachers in servicing students with more diverse needs; and (10) reporting of student outcome data. (CR)