Special Education Funding Tiers
A student is considered eligible for special education funding under LA GATOR if the student is currently eligible for special education and related services as a student with a disability pursuant to Louisiana’s Education of Students with Exceptionalities Act, R.S. 17:1941 et seq. A valid evaluation and/or IEP developed by a Local Educational Agency (as defined in R.S. 17:1942) is required as proof of a student’s current eligibility.
Tiered funding will be determined by the student’s disability as verified in the LDOE’s internal system using the student’s LASID and the family income as verified through the Odyssey platform’s verification process.
Students with a disability that are from families with an income at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPL) will be able to receive funds in addition to the amounts received for students with a disability that are from families above 250% of the FPL.
Please refer to the charts below that detail exceptionalities by tier and the tiered funding calculation.
Exceptionalities Tier
| Tier 1 Exceptionalities | Tier 2 Exceptionalities | Tier 3 Exceptionalities |
- Speech or Language Impairment
- Specific Learning Disability
- Intellectual disability (mild)
- Developmental Delay
- Emotional Disturbance
- Other Health Impairment
- Autism
| - Intellectual disability (moderate or severe)
- Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Visual Impairment (partial sight)
| - Traumatic Brain Injury
- Multiple Disabilities
- Deaf-Blindness
- Visual Impairment (blindness)
|
Tiered Funding Calculation
| | Base Amount | 250% FPL Adder | Special Education Tier Funding | Total Funding per Student |
| At or below 250% FPL with a Tier 1 evaluation | $5,243.00 | $2,383.00 | $2,621.50 | $10,247.50 |
| At or below 250% FPL with a Tier 2 evaluation | $5,243.00 | $2,383.00 | $3,932.25 | $11,558.25 |
| At or below 250% FPL with a Tier 3 evaluation | $5,243.00 | $2,383.00 | $7,627.00 | $15,253.00 |
| Above 250% FPL with a Tier 1 evaluation | $5,243.00 | $0 | $2,621.50 | $7,864.50 |
| Above 250% FPL with a Tier 2 evaluation | $5,243.00 | $0 | $3,932.25 | $9,175.25 |
| Above 250% FPL with a Tier 3 evaluation | $5,243.00 | $0 | $7,627.00 | $12,870.00 |
Special Education Tier Funding Explanation
- Tier 1: $2,621.50 (50% of the base)
- Tier 2: $3,932.25 (75% of the base)
- Tier 3: $7,627.00 (145% of the base)
The maximum amount that a student with disabilities can be awarded is $15,253 based on the calculation methodology in the act.
