INFORMATIONAL

  In response to requests of Division Superintendents,
  attached is information with respect to the number of
  Special Education Students and the Special Education
  Expenditures from all sources, (local, state, and federal)
  as reported by the local school divisions to the Department
  of Education for the years 1989-90 through 1996-97.

  It was the thinking of the Division Superintendents in their
  request that it would be beneficial to them to have data
  over a period of time on the number of Special Education
  Students and Special Education Expenditures so that the
  growth factor could be analyzed.

  You may wish to use this data as you develop and present
  your budgetary requests to your local school board and
  governing body.   

  For the Commonwealth of Virginia, the number of Special
  Education Students was 105,364 in 1989-90 and increased by
  38,280 to 143,644 in 1996-97 or a 36.3% increase for the
  seven years while the Special Education Expenditures
  amounted to $ 407,145,695 in 1989-90 and increased by $
  344,747,483 to $ 751,893,178 in 1996-97, or an 84.7%
  increase for the seven years.

  Any questions concerning this report should be addressed to
  John Mitchell, Special Education Finance and Grants at (804)
  225- 2704.


  RTL/jma

  Attachment:  A hard copy of this memo and its attachment
                 will be sent to the superintendent's office.