2026 Finance 101

Designed specifically for new and aspiring special education directors, and those who support the director, this training will teach the skills for projecting revenue, for building a compliant, data-driven special education budget, and will build a bank of resources for ongoing use. Topics covered include how to project revenue for building a compliant and data-driven special education budget, define revenue sources, identify resources and tools, and build a network of colleagues. Participants will learn about EDGAR basics, excess cost requirements, and specific program guidelines for the IDEA-B formula and preschool grants; review required schedules and the "set-asides" for residential placements and proportionate share funds for private school students; review MOE eligibility and compliance; and review personnel funding and explore a simple budgeting process. The potential impacts of recent legislative changes will be discussed.