<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3xIrQs_1GxD6EQr00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3xIrQs_1GxD6EQr00" width="710" height="490" ><figcaption>Bend schools Superintendent Steve Cook spoke about the problem with Oregon's special education funding at two meetings last week. This is a screenshot of Cook speaking to parents of Silver Rail Elementary students. (Bend-La Pine Schools)</figcaption></figure>There is a problem in Oregon with paying to teach children with special needs. Unless something happens in the next legislative session, the problem will continue.The state caps the additional money districts get for special education instruction at 11% of their enrollment. The actual average need for special education services in most school districts is above the 11% threshold. If districts have more needs, they can apply for more money. What ends up happening, though, is districts must direct money away from educating other students to help serve its special education students. Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steve Cook says the Bend district does not get fully compensated to help educate special education students. It’s like a tax on the district’s general fund budget that undermines its ability to teach all students, he said. The cost of special education students vary. Some students cost the Bend district upwards of $250,000 to educate, Cook said. The money Bend schools gets from the state per student is closer to $11,000 to $12,000. Special education students deserve a chance to be educated as well as the district can. But all students pay the cost. The problem is the cap. The problem is also money. A year ago, the gap for special education money was estimated to be about $750 million. A bill to adjust the cap failed in 2025.We asked Gov. Tina Kotek about the funding for special education at a news conference on Friday. “The question of special education funding is an important one and I understand the issue,” Kotek said. “We have a cap in terms of the amount of support from the state for special education students. We need to have a conversation: Can we get that cap higher? And I’m open to that conversation. I am looking at it in my budget.”Of course, Oregon has many problems that will cost millions to improve. For instance, legislators coming into this session face making cuts of millions to the Oregon Health Plan. What problems should legislators and the governor prioritize? Editorials reflect the views of The Bulletin’s editorial board, Editor Jody Lawrence-Turner, Editor Tim Trainor and Editorial Page Editor Richard Coe.</div></body>

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There is a problem in Oregon with paying to teach children with special needs. Unless something happens in the next legislative session, the problem will continue. The state caps the additional money districts get for special education instruction at 11% of their enrollment. The actual average need for special education services in most school districts is above the 11% threshold.

Editorial: Oregon has a problem paying for special education

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There is a problem in Oregon with paying to teach children with special needs. Unless something happens in the next legislative session, the problem will c

Editorial: Oregon has a problem paying for special education

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