Wellesley Public Schools: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
In addition to students placed out-of-district through the Team process and by the Wellesley Public Schools, there are students for whom tuition and/or services are assumed by the district through settlement agreements. These agreements are the result of legal disputes that cannot be resolved through the typical Team process. FY’26 Out-of-District Budget Development: The FY’26 Budget uses the FY’25 Adjusted Budget as the base. Therefore, it is important to review the changes made this fall in the adjusted budget and proposed for fiscal year 2026.
FY’25 Budget
FY’25 Adjusted Budget
Variance (Adj. – Voted)
FY’26 Budget
Variance (FY’26 – FY’25)
Placement Type Out-of-State Schools Professional Services Private Day Schools Residential Schools Collaboratives
$478,028 $603,273 $209,058 $4,342,486 $971,067 $6,603,912
$322,400 $530,882 $179,365 $4,202,378 $1,439,807 $6,674,832
($155,628) ($72,391) ($29,693) ($140,108) $468,740 $70,920
$334,280 $645,650 $143,962 $4,085,602 $2,270,254 $7,303,256
$11,880 $114,768 ($35,403) ($116,776) $830,447 $796,074
Out of District Total:
Tuition rates vary based on the type of placement (Collaborative, Out of State, Private Day, Residential) and the level of services associated with the students’ needs for the provision of FAPE. In-state tuition rates currently range from $39,203 (private day) to $503,704 (private residential) on an annual basis. The development of the annual school budget is early given the regular changes in student needs. With Annual Town Meeting occurring in April, the district must make projections of changes in student placements in an ever-changing landscape of special education. The district’s budget approach for special education is to budget all known and reasonably known student needs. Changes in student needs should be expected; the impact of the changes can fluctuate greatly in any given year. The Special Education Reserve / Stabilization Fund can be accessed for unanticipated, unbudgeted special education costs if changes occur throughout fiscal year 2026. Should access to the reserve fund be required, a majority vote is required from both the School Committee and the Select Board. Out-of-District Rates: Approved private day schools and residential school tuition rates are determined by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, Operational Services Division, Special Education Pricing Unit. By October 1 st of each year, the special education pricing unit notifies School Superintendents of the inflation rate that will be applied to approved schools for the upcoming fiscal year. This is meant to help districts budget for this cost center. Here is a historical view of the inflation rates:
Year FY’26 FY’25 FY’24 FY’23 FY’22
Inflation Rate
Year FY’21 FY’20 FY’19 FY’18 FY’17
Inflation Rate
Year FY’16 FY’15 FY’14 FY’13 FY’12
Inflation Rate
3.67% 4.69% 14.00% 2.54% 2.26%
2.72% 1.63% 2.33% 1.15% 1.83%
1.40% 1.53% 1.80% 2.13% 1.69%
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