An audit has revealed disturbing details about special education resources in the state of Massachusetts, and has led state auditor Suzanne Bump to call for a dramatic increase in state oversight of special education service providers to school districts. Her audit turned up millions in wasted tax payer funds that were misspent by special education agencies and collaboratives.

For example, the audit identified over $37 million in questionable expenses during a two year period by the Merrimack Special Education Collaborative alone. These expenses included luxurious golf retreats and other lavish entertainment spending, as well as salary expenses that could be considered state pension abuse. There were also improper charges made by related nonprofits to the collaborative. Audits of the READ Collaborative, the Southeastern Massachusetts Education Collaborative, and the MSEC turned up similar abuses.

Investment in special education resources can help a school district to meet federal academic standards as part of a strategic education improvement plan. Some school districts are being required to implement changes due to their failure to meet the increasingly rigorous yearly progress standards set out under the No Child Left Behind Act by the federal government.

Investments in training staff on best practices for teaching special education students and certifying that more teachers are certified in English as a Second Language (ESL) can help to ensure that special needs students do not fall through the cracks. The Texas Education Agency, for example, has released data that showed 8 out of 25 schools in one state district didn't' meet the federal standards in 2011.These standards require a school to test at least 95% of students and have at least 80% pass a reading and English test and 75% pass a math test.

Councilor at Large candidates in Salem, Massachusetts were recently interviewed on their thoughts about special education resources in Salem schools. Darek Barcikowski noted that 25% of the student population in Salem is currently enrolled in some form of special education program. This is one of the highest rates in the state, and dramatically higher than the rate in Boston of 6%.

These programs are necessary for students to be able to achieve standard educational goals, but they are also a lot more expensive than traditional educational programs. They require a higher share of state resources, including higher paid teachers and special coordinators which draw salaries in excess of $10000 per year. He believes that in some cases students are misdiagnosed as needing special education services, which puts an undue tax burden on city residents and does not benefit those students.