SB21-274 Summary

• Creates a work group to develop a sustainable educational model for approximately 1,600 children and youth daily who require specialized services in residential, day treatment, hospital, or home-bound settings due to physical, behavioral, mental health, or special education needs.

• Work group must be convened by July 1, 2021, and include representatives from school districts, boards of cooperative services, special education directors, facility schools, and various state departments to analyze capacity, costs, and develop implementation plans.

• Requires the work group to submit a comprehensive model and implementation plan by October 1, 2022, with implementation beginning July 1, 2023, and full implementation by July 1, 2027.

• Appropriates $6,200,000 for fiscal year 2021-22, including $500,000 for the work group and $5,700,000 in supplemental payments to approved facility schools.

• Addresses the 30 percent decline in facility school capacity over five years and aims to prevent costly out-of-state placements by developing a comprehensive continuum of educational and support services not embedded in the child welfare system.