The Fairness in Special Education Funding for Student Success Act seeks to improve funding and support for special education services in New Jersey, particularly for students with disabilities requiring high needs placements. The bill establishes the Office of High Needs Placement Funding within the Department of Education, which will manage contracts with service providers and oversee payments for special education services exceeding $55,000 as specified in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). Additionally, the legislation mandates the creation of a directory of service providers and a quality rating system to ensure accountability and transparency in service delivery.

Key changes in the bill include the deletion of previous provisions emphasizing the importance of educating children in the least restrictive environment and the neighborhood school, as well as the removal of specific criteria for extraordinary special education aid. Instead, the new funding formula will utilize a census model based on statewide averages and will provide increased state aid for extraordinary costs incurred by districts. The bill also allows deductions from a school district's State aid based on various funding sources and eliminates the current extraordinary special education costs aid, although a transitional year for reimbursement will still be provided. Overall, the legislation aims to create a more equitable and efficient funding system that meets the educational needs of all New Jersey students.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:7F-44, 18A:7F-46, 18A:7F-55, 46:15-7.1