Special education programs are under increasing pressure. From rising student needs to inconsistent service delivery and stretched budgets, district leaders face difficult choices. Yet within these challenges lies an opportunity: to shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive capacity building.
Looking at national trends, we see an impact on districts, and how strategic investments — including comprehensive curricula — can create sustainable solutions for students, educators, and budgets alike.
The Pressure is Mounting: A National Glimpse at Local Challenges
Across the country, the story is similar: Special education enrollment is surging and district services are unable to keep up with the demand.
- San Antonio, Texas: Special education enrollment has surged 32% since 2020, fueled by better diagnostics, parental advocacy, and pandemic learning loss. Districts are scrambling to meet demands with limited staff and rising costs. (Express News)
- Greenwich, Connecticut: Despite progress since its 2020-21 audit, special education services remain inconsistent across 15 schools. Gaps in staff training, service quality, and family communication persist. (Greenwich Time)
- Texas School Leaders: Expressing gratitude for targeted special education investments, district leaders simultaneously decry the lack of flexible base funding that would allow for long-term program stability. (Express News)
These aren’t isolated issues — they’re part of a larger pattern districts nationwide are navigating.
The High Cost of Inconsistency
Failing to address these challenges systematically carries measurable costs:
- Teacher Turnover: Replacing a single special education teacher costs districts between $14,000 and $25,000 in recruitment, training, and onboarding. High turnover disrupts program consistency and strains already thin resources. (Learning Policy Institute)
- Student Outplacement: Without adequate in-district supports, students are placed in specialized external programs — often at a price tag of $115,400 to $124,600 per student per year, plus transportation. (Stamford Advocate)
Both are expensive symptoms of a common root problem: insufficient infrastructure for delivering consistent, high-quality special education services district-wide.
A Framework for Program Evaluation
Understanding the full scope of a district’s special education program strengths and gaps is a crucial first step to intervention. Without a clear, system-wide view, even well-intentioned investments can miss the mark, leading to patchwork fixes rather than sustainable progress.
A comprehensive evaluation provides the foundation for strategic decision-making. It allows district leaders to prioritize resources, address inconsistencies, and build capacity in a way that is targeted, data-driven, and aligned with long-term goals.
The 5P Framework for Special Education Program Evaluation provides a structured approach to assess five critical dimensions:
- People
- Places
- Practices
- Procedures
- Products
This framework helps district leaders and special education directors systematically identify strengths, gaps, and next steps for continuous improvement.
🔗 Explore the 5P Framework Article
Recommendation:
Make sure this resource gets in the right hands! Forward a link to the team responsible for special education strategy and budgeting to guide meaningful conversations about program needs and strategic planning for the upcoming year.
Building Capacity: Curriculum as a Strategic Solution
Conducting a thorough program evaluation gives district leaders a clear picture of where their special education services excel and where critical gaps exist. But insight alone is not enough. The true value of evaluation lies in how it informs strategic, high-leverage actions.
One of the most effective and immediate steps districts can take to address identified gaps is the adoption of a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum. A well-structured curriculum transforms evaluation findings into tangible improvements — providing consistency, reducing staff burden, and ensuring all students receive the high-quality supports they need to succeed.
While advocacy and funding reform remain critical, curriculum is an area where districts have immediate, local control. The adoption of a foundational special education curriculum can have a wide-reaching impact across the district, reducing costly teacher turnover and outplacements, while improving student performance.
Adopting a comprehensive, evidence-based special education curriculum empowers districts to:
- Standardize instruction and interventions across schools and classrooms.
- Reduce teacher burnout with structured, replicable resources.
- Support staff at all experience levels through clear frameworks.
- Improve data collection and progress monitoring for informed decision-making.
- Enhance family communication with consistent language and goals.
- Provide a scalable foundation that grows with student needs.
Moving Forward: A Strategic Imperative for District Leadership
Districts across the country are facing a pivotal moment in special education. Rising student needs, inconsistent service delivery, and mounting financial pressures—particularly from teacher turnover and outplacement costs—demand more than temporary fixes. These challenges are not isolated incidents; they reflect systemic gaps that require systemic solutions.
The path forward begins with clarity. A comprehensive program evaluation can offer district leaders a structured way to assess where their programs stand and where targeted improvements are needed. This is not about fault-finding—it’s about equipping leadership with the insights necessary to make informed, strategic decisions.
Among the most impactful of these decisions is the adoption of a consistent, scalable curriculum. While not a silver bullet, a comprehensive curriculum can address multiple root causes at once: reducing variability in instruction, easing the burden on teachers, and ensuring students receive the supports they need to succeed within district programs.
Ultimately, the goal is not just compliance, but capacity: building a foundation that supports sustainable, high-quality special education services for all students.
As districts plan for the year ahead, leaders have an opportunity to shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive system-building. Doing so will not only control costs, but more importantly, will better serve students, families, and the educators who support them.
Learn More
Discover how the ARIS Curriculum can help your district deliver consistent, high-quality special education services while reducing strain on staff and budgets.
