Texas Slashes $607M In Special Ed Funding For Schools
Texas schools are bracing for impact as a $607 million Medicaid cut slashes critical funding for special education services, leaving vulnerable students and their families at risk.
Texas recently announced a $607 million cut in Medicaid funding for special education, a decision expected to severely impact the services provided to students with disabilities across the state. This funding, part of the School Health and Related Services (SHARS) program, is essential for districts to cover expenses related to specialized support like counseling, nursing, therapy, and transportation for Medicaid-eligible students.
IMPACT ON SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
The $607 million cut leaves districts struggling to fill the gap in special education funding. School administrators warn that the decision will hinder their ability to hire and retain staff essential to supporting students with disabilities.
Many of these children, who require one-on-one support and individualized attention, depend on services covered by the SHARS program, making the cutbacks especially impactful in areas with high needs and low resources.
GOV. ABBOTT TRIES PUSHING A RIDICULOUS PROGRAM
What makes these cuts even more infuriating is the recent pushes to increase public school funding have stalled—with those dollars tied up in Gov. Greg Abbott’s unsuccessful push for a school voucher program that would allow parents to use taxpayer dollars to fund their children’s private school tuition.
CONCERNS AND APPEALS FROM LOCAL SCHOOL LEADERS
School leaders are appealing the cuts, while educators argue that these decisions are an overcorrection following a 2017 federal audit that flagged minor overbilling issues. They assert that Texas can adjust without severely undercutting essential services for vulnerable students.
Without these funds, Texas school districts fear they will be unable to meet the needs of their disabled students, leaving a lasting impact on the quality of education and care available statewide.