Pat: When district agrees to alternate placement in private school, who pays for paraeducator?
Private Placement: WHO PAYS FOR PARAEDUCATOR SUPPORT?
Special Education Law and Advocacy
Pat –
Here’s the easy answer – if the paraeducator is included in the IEP that you and the Team agreed to, then the district is responsible to pay for it.
When a district agrees to a outside placement at public expense, they will contract with the private school to pay a set price for the student to attend. This price covers the “standard” set of supports and services a typical student at the private school receives receives, as well as a set student/teacher ratio. This may include 1-1 support for some private schools, but usually it does not and will be an “add on” expense for the district. Regardless, the responsibility for payment falls on the district.
Pat, your school district is responsible for providing your child with a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the private school. If your child needs an aide or paraeducator to receive a FAPE, the district is responsible for providing one.