Opinion ID: 2524503
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Transportation and Special Education

Text: [ถ 71] Pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. งง 21-13-320(b) and 21-13-321(b) (LEXIS 1999), special education and transportation costs are funded at 100 percent of a district's previous year's actual expenditures. However, the legislation provides that, if the ratio of spending on either of these two categories to total district spending increases, the amount of funding received for that category will be reduced by the excess which is over one hundred percent (100%) but less than one hundred ten percent (110%). Wyo. Stat. Ann. งง 21-13-320(e)(iii) (transportation), 21-13-321(b)(ii)(C) (special education) (LEXIS 1999). The following year, the DOE shall increase the amount the district receives by the amount reduced the previous year if the excess expenditures are found to be necessary to provide special education services or transportation operations for the school year in which they occurred. Wyo. Stat. Ann. งง 21-13-320(e)(iv) (transportation), 21-13-321(b)(ii)(D) (special education) (LEXIS 1999). [ถ 72] The school districts contend the 10 percent withholding limitation represents an arbitrary limit on reimbursement of actual costs incurred in providing essential educational services. However, districts experiencing an increase in spending will receive funding for the increase once they demonstrate to the DOE that these expenditures were necessary to provide services during the school year. Id. There is no limit upon the reimbursement of necessary transportation or special education expenditures. The legislation only requires that significant increases in expenditures be justified. Given the full reimbursement of legitimate expenses and the relatively small percentage of the budget these items represent, this does not amount to an infringement upon the right to an adequate education. We affirm the trial court's holding which stated that the special education and transportation reimbursement is not a constitutionally actionable penalty.