Arkansas Code Annotated 6-20-323 provides for Catastrophic Occurrences reimbursements to local education agencies for expenditures incurred serving high-cost special needs children.
Reimbursement from the Catastrophic Occurrences Fund may be requested by local education agencies for individual students where special education and related services required by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) of a particular child are:
. unduly expensive
. extraordinary, and/or
. beyond the routine and normal costs associated with special education and related services provided by the local education agency.
Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), Special Education Regulation 24.06.1 specifies that a form be provided for Catastrophic Occurrences reimbursement requests to be returned no later than May 15 of each school year. The form to be completed to request reimbursement for an individual Catastrophic Occurrence is attached. Complete one form for each student for whom reimbursement is requested.
Completed Catastrophic Occurrences reimbursement requests must be returned by May 15, 2003 to be considered. Requests received by ADE, Special Education after May 15, 2003 will not be reviewed for current year funding.
More information on the Catastrophic Occurrences program, including a description of eligible costs and reimbursement scales, may be found on the ADE Special Education website at http://arksped.k12.ar.us. Please click on “Rules and Regulations” and refer to Chapter 24.00.