Study of the Mount Diablo Unified School District - Mt. Diablo Unified ...

CHAPTER 2: DISTRICT OPERATIONS AND ASSOCIATEDFINANCIAL EFFECTIVENESSThis chapter examines the operations, continuum of services, and associated financialeffectiveness of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) Department of PupilServices and Special Education. According to federal law, schools must offer a continuum ofservices from least to most restrictive setting. The most typical and inclusive setting isgeneral education, followed by resource rooms, special classes, special schools, homeboundservices and hospitals and institutions (20.U.S.C. Sec. 1401 (25)).The specific sections of this chapter include:2.1 Financial Operations2.2 Organizational StructureThe following factors must be taken into account in determining whether a student willreceive an appropriate education in the least restrictive environment (LRE) (Board ofEducation, Sacramento City Unified School District v. Holland, 1994):• The educational benefits of an integrated setting compared to those of thesegregated setting.• The nonacademic benefits of the student’s interaction with peers who do not havedisabilities.• The effect of the student’s presence in the general education program on theteacher and other students.• The costs of supplemental services that are required to maintain the student in theintegrated program.While a school district must adhere to state and federal regulations of the Individuals withDisabilities Education Improvement Act 2004 (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB), thedistrict must also adhere to the local policies and procedures of operations anddemonstrate associated financial effectiveness.Exhibit 2‐1 shows a comparison of the district’s budget over the past two years. MDUSD’sbudgeted expenditures for FY 2009‐10 are $267,212,952, while budgeted revenues amountto $266,808,069, resulting in a shortfall of $404,883.MGT of America, Inc. Page 2‐1