Senator Brian A. Joyce (D-Milton) announced today that a Special Education Reimbursement amendment to the Senate Ways & Means FY11 budget that he co-sponsored was adopted during budget debate last week. The amendment would increase the funding for the Special Education Circuit Breaker Extraordinary Relief Claims program by 10%, and funnel much needed funds to our local school districts. The program is designed to help offset special education costs that exceed 125% of the previous year's claimed costs.
 
 
Last month, Senator Joyce and Representative William C. Galvin announced that the Town of Canton was awarded an additional $205,337 in extraordinary special education relief by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
 
 
In 2003, Senator Joyce co-sponsored the special education “circuit breaker” reimbursement to assist with extraordinary special education costs that may not be consistent from year to year. Special education costs may include out-of-district placements at schools that provide specialized services.
 
 
“Special education costs have a large impact on a school system’s budget,” said Senator Joyce. “The circuit breaker reimbursement was designed to assist towns with extraordinary and unexpected costs, and I pleased that my colleagues supported this effort.”
 
 
Members of the Senate and House will soon begin work on a final compromise version of the FY 2011 budget. The 2011 fiscal year begins on July 1.