The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) received a Special Education Services appropriation in Act 2131 of 2005 that includes public school funds to provide for educational services delivered in residential centers. ADE Special Education Procedural Requirements and Program Standards, Section 18.00, provides a mechanism to reimburse school districts for the costs of educating disabled and nondisabled students placed for the purpose of substance abuse and psychiatric treatment in approved residential programs.
Residential programs such as those operated by the state for deaf and blind students and programs providing intermediate care for the mentally retarded (ICF-MR) are not eligible for public school fund reimbursements through Section 18.00 since these costs are provided for elsewhere in state law.
During Fiscal Year 2006-2007, reimbursement requests will be filed on the Special Education website at http://arksped.k12.ar.us by logging on to MySped Resource and accessing Residential Reimbursements under the Finance link. A User’s Guide, including quarterly service dates and deadlines, will be available on the website on September 11, 2006. The Fiscal Year 2006-2007 reimbursement rate for eligible in-state placements will be $50.00 per day.