Arkansas Code Annotated 6-20-323 provides for current year funding for Special Education Catastrophic Occurrences. Special Education Catastrophic Occurrences means the following:
1. Those individual cases where special education and related services required by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) of a particular child is unduly expensive, extraordinary and/or beyond the routine and normal costs associated with special education and related services provided by the local education agency, or
2. The aggregate special education expenses per average daily membership (ADM) of a local school district places the local education agency at the 75% percentile or above among all Arkansas School Districts in special education expenditure per ADM as reported on the most recent Annual Financial Report submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education Unit. Based on the rankings of districts, the ADE will determine the eligible districts and calculate the amount of reimbursement available to each district. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED OF THE DISTRICT. PLEASE NOTE THAT REIMBURSEMENT BASED ON AGGREGATE SPECIAL EDUCATION EXPENDITURES WILL BE DISBURSED ONLY IF THE INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS MENTIONED IN #1 DO NOT EXCEED THE AVAILABLE APPROPRIATION.
Enclosed are forms and instructions for districts to seek reimbursement for special education catastrophic occurrences based on individual claims. Please read the instructions carefully before proceeding. The completed forms are due in the Special Education Office by May 15, 2002. Send reimbursement requests to the following address:
Grants and Data Management
Special Education
Arkansas Department of Education
4 Capitol Mall, Room 105-C
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1071