During the 1995-96 school year, Florida spent approximately $1.75 billion for special programs, services, and facilities to serve 368,710 exceptional students. If these students' needs could have been met without exceptional education programs, their education would have cost approximately $665 million, or $1.08 billion less.
The number and percentage of Florida children served in exceptional student education programs and the cost of serving those children is increasing both in Florida and nationally.
Research indicates that two of the major factors contributing to the increase in Florida's exceptional student population are rising educational expectations and the increasing number and percentage of Florida children living in poverty.
Florida school districts vary in their use of the exceptional education program. The Department of Education has not evaluated the cost-effectiveness of different district approaches to serving exceptional students. However, the Department has begun development of a system to evaluate the effectiveness of the exceptional student education program.
The Department has expressed concerns that some districts are not serving exceptional students in the least restrictive manner. To address these concerns, the Department has recommended changes in the distribution of funds for exceptional education programs.

Many Children Receiving Intensive Exceptional Student Education Services Are Served by Multiple Programs; No Unnecessary Duplication of Services Found
Report 04-39 June 2004
Florida Could Avoid $1.5 Million Annually in ESE Costs for Out-of-State Students Who Are Placed in Private Residential Facilities
Report 03-58 November 2003
Exceptional Student Education Population Grows Dramatically; More Accountability and Better Training Needed to Implement Funding Matrix
Report 03-40 July 2003
Progress Report: State's Testing Participation Goal Unmet in Fast-Growing Exceptional Education Program
Report 99-19 December 1999

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.