Special Education - Act 16
Section 1372 of the Public School Code requires the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to annually compile information listing the number of students with disabilities for which expenditures are under $5,042.50 (Category 1A); between $5,042.50 and $27,535.15 (Category 1B); between $27,535.16 and $55,070.31 (Category 2); between $55,070.32 and $82,605.51 (Category 3A); and over $82,605.51 (Category 3B) for the prior school year.
For the 2022-2023 submission, school districts and charter schools reported the cost of special education services per student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) from July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023.
Data submitted by charter school via the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS) was used to generate the Legislative Report.
The data reported by the school districts and charter schools are each entity's assessment of the individual cost of the delivery of special education services to each child in each category.
All 500 school districts and 175 charter schools submitted expenditure data for fiscal year 2022-2023.
In fiscal year (FY) 2022-2023, a total of 378,871 students received special education. The table below includes comparison FY 2021-2022 and FY 2022-2023 data for students with disabilities.
100% of charter schools reported in 2022-2023.
The table below shows the total number of charter school students in each expenditure category. The School District of Pittsburgh paid charter schools $46,517.99 for each special education student in 2022-2023. This table exemplifies the vast disparity between the monies charter schools receive to educate these students and the amount charter schools actually spend educating these students.
* - 10 or Less Students Reported
Act 16 of 2000 (Act 16), in part, amended section 1372 of the Publc School Code of 1949 and requires the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to annually compile information listing the number of students with disabilities for which expenditures are between $27,303.08 and $54,606.16 (Category 2), between $54,606.17 and $81,909.25 (Category 3A), and over $81,909.25 (Category 3B) for the prior school year.
Act 55 of 2022 (Act 55) further amended section 1372 to require PDE include in the February 2023 report the number of students with disabilities for which expenditures are under $5,000 (Category 1A) and between $5,000 and $27,303.07 (Category 1B) for the prior school year.
Data submitted by charter school via the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS) was used to generate the Legislative Report.
The data reported by the school districts and charter schools are each entiity's assessment of the individual cost of the delivery of special education services to each child in each category.
All 500 school districts and 176 charter schools submitted expenditure data for fiscal year 2021-2022.
In fiscal year (FY) 2021-2022, a total of 313,446 students received special education. The table below includes comparsion FY 2020-2021 and FY 2021-2022 data for students with disabilities.
Category |
Cost Range |
FY 2020-21 # of Eligible Children |
FY 2021-22 # of Eligible Children |
Change |
1A |
$1.00 - $4,999.99 |
Not Reported |
74,844 |
74,844 |
1B |
$5,000 - $27,303.07 |
Not Reported |
255,759 |
255,759 |
2 |
$27,303.08 - $54,606.16 |
23,207 |
24,401 |
1,194 |
3A |
$54,606.17 - $81,909.25 |
6,673 |
7,257 |
584 |
3B |
Over $81,909.25 |
2,776 |
3,333 |
557 |
100% of charter schools reported in 2021-2022.
The table below shows the total number of charter school students in each expenditure category. The School District of Pittsburgh paid charter schools $42,569.95 for each special education student in 2021-2022. This table exemplifies the vast disparity between the monies charter schools receive to educate these students and the amount charter schools actually spend educating these students.
Charter School |
Total # Special Education Students |
Under $5,000 |
$5,000 - $27,303 |
$27,303 - $54,606 |
$54,606 - $81,909 |
OVER $81,909 |
Catalyst Academy |
19 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
City Charter |
114 |
* |
120 |
11 |
* |
* |
Environmental |
153 |
* |
171 |
13 |
11 |
* |
Manchester Academic |
50 |
25 |
29 |
* |
* |
* |
Passport Academy |
30 |
* |
54 |
* |
* |
* |
Propel – Hazelwood |
43 |
13 |
31 |
21 |
* |
* |
Propel – Northside |
82 |
* |
60 |
30 |
* |
* |
Provident |
212 |
* |
38 |
192 |
* |
* |
The New Academy |
34 |
* |
47 |
* |
* |
* |
Urban Academy |
43 |
* |
60 |
* |
* |
* |
Urban Pathways 6-12 |
82 |
23 |
64 |
* |
* |
* |
Urban Pathways K-5 |
66 |
70 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* - 10 or Less Students Reported