LIVE: West Fargo Public Schools talks about new Special Ed funding source

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – The challenge of funding special education programs has become a little easier in North Dakota this year.

West Fargo Public Schools is utilising a new Medicaid funding source that provides the district with funds for some of the administrative work involved in placing students in their special education programs.

While this program has been available in other states, it just opened up in North Dakota this year, and West Fargo administrators say it adds another important lever for special education funding.

They say that funding for Special Ed programs is a complex puzzle, and that they hope to share what they learn in the first year of this new program with smaller districts around the state to make sure that students get access to the resources they need.

“It’s an easy grab at some money that helps us to sustain the good work that’s happening behind the scenes: the work of our social workers, our mental health therapists, our school counselors.”

“This is work that’s happening in schools right now, all across North Dakota.”