OXFORD — Proposed changes in special education regulations may improve services to students but are not likely to save the Oxford Hills School District much money, special education Director Marcye Gray told the school board this week.

“It will save the state money. It is not likely to save Oxford Hills School District very much money at all,” she said.

The new emergency regulations, which include revisions in how students are identified for services, are expected to go into effect shortly for one year and then be studied by the Legislature for enactment.

The regulations are intended to align Maine’s rules with those of the federal government. Gray said Maine’s regulations exceed those of the feds.

“I don’t think we’ll see very much change with this regulation but there will be better guidelines,” she said.

One of the major changes should result in accurate identification of students eligible to receive special education services, she said.

Assistant Special Education Director Tim Luft said Wednesday that there are 460, or about 13.5 percent of students districtwide, receiving special education services. Some schools have as many as 35 percent of students using those services, Gray  said.

The emergency regulations will also reduce the time allowed to legally challenge a student’s special education program from four to two years. Gray said district administrators represent the school about 80 percent of the time when a student’s program is challenged. Use of attorneys is normally done through telephone conversations, if necessary. so there will be little savings seen from this change, she said.

The district may see some savings in a new requirement that will mandate a reduction in medical therapies, such as occupational and physical therapy. Because the rules better define the need in terms of a student’s education, school officials can better determine when therapy should be provided.

Maine Commissioner of Education Susan Gendron is also encouraging school districts to develop regional programs for high-need services, which could reduce costs significantly across the state. Of the 460 special education students in Oxford Hills, only two are being educated outside of the district, Gray said. The outside placements cost the district between $40,000 and $45,000 each, plus transportation costs, Luft said.

  Gray told the board that the administration supports the new changes and they will give local officials “clearer tools to use as they determine eligibility for special education.”

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