Rise in special education tuition creates budgetary friction for Middleboro public schools
Middleboro School Committee members discuss the possible cutting of about 30 positions to address a budget gap at a recent meeting. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Middleboro School Committee members discuss the possible cutting of about 30 positions to address a budget gap at a recent meeting. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro public schools are experiencing budget constraints as tuition costs for special education services continue to increase.
The district is considering cutting about 30 positions across the district to address a potential budget shortfall of $2.2 million. The $230,000 increase in costs for delivering special education to students is a contributing factor to the shortfall in the upcoming fiscal year, Interim Superintendent Michael Perrone said.
Perrone said the $230,000 increase is 5% higher than the current budget. He said the increase comes from a combination of higher tuition costs and three additional students who will receive special education services.
“[Tuition] is constantly going up,” Perrone said. “It’s less than the increases we've been seeing over the last couple years, but it's still substantial.”
Special education costs have nearly doubled in four years from $2.64 million in 2023-2024, to $4.97 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The number of students serviced through special education programs has also risen from 24 to 33 students over the last four years.
At a recent school committee meeting, Perrone said this hike in costs for special education students — who attend programs out of the district — is a significant stress point on the upcoming budget.
Under Massachusetts public education laws, schools are required to provide free and unrestricted education to all school-aged children. Students are sent out of the district if Middleboro schools cannot provide the necessary services.
“Anything that is mandated is obviously prioritized and put into the budget. Then you build your budget based on all the needs,” Perrone said.
The district must look to non-mandated budget items — such as cutting positions — to find where they can make a reduction and cover the $2.2 million shortfall.
Perrone said special education costs per student can range from about $60,000 to upwards of $200,000. Every student who receives special education services has an individualized education plan based on their needs.
“We have to make some budget reductions, because our revenue is not meeting what we need to provide for a level service budget,” Perrone said.
