Special Education Transportation Task Force Report

Transcription

1 Special Education Transportation Task Force Report OCTOBER org Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives

2 Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives DearColleagues: Forthepastseveralyears,theMassachusettsLegislatureandtheDepartmentofElementaryand SecondaryEducationhavefundedinitiativesdesignedtosupportcooperativetransportationofspecial educationstudentstoout of districtplacements.thefiscalyear2010grantee,themassachusetts OrganizationofEducationalCollaboratives(MOEC),istheleadorganizationofastatewideTaskForce madeupofrepresentativesfromnumerouseducationalorganizations.moecissubmittingthisreportto summarizetheactivitiesandoutcomesofthemassachusettsspecialneedsstudenttransportation project.therehavebeensignificantaccomplishments: Asaresultofthisinitiative,nowinitsfifthyear,atotalof$7,345,000instudenttransportation costsavingshavebeenreportedbyeducationalcollaborativesandstudenttransportation networks.additionalsavingsareexpectedasmorestudentsaretransportedfromalready participatingdistrictsandasnetworksaddadditionaldistricts. Thestudenttransportationinfrastructurehasbecomeconsiderablymoresophisticated. Thequalityofspecialeducationstudenttransportationcontinuestoimprove. Transportationnetworkshavebegunexpandingservicestootherareaswithsimilarpotentialfor savings. TheSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationTaskForcewillcontinuetoserveasanimportant influenceandadvocacygroupineffortstoreducecostsfurtherandimprovestudent transportationservices. MOECandtheTaskForcewishtothanktheLegislatureandtheMassachusettsDepartmentof ElementaryandSecondaryEducationfortheirsupportofthisworthwhileproject.Webelievethatthis andsimilarinitiativesthatencourageregionalcollaborationonstudenttransportationandother educationactivitiesarebotheducationallysoundandfiscallyresponsible. RespectfullysubmittedonbehalfoftheSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationTaskForce: ColleenCavanaugh,MassachusettsAssociationforPupilTransportation JohnCrafton,MassachusettsAssociationofSchoolBusinessOfficials ThomasScott,MassachusettsAssociationofSchoolSuperintendents MichaelGilbert,MassachusettsAssociationofSchoolCommittees JoanneHaleySullivan,NorthRiverCollaborative JohnHennessey,WorcesterPublicSchools CarlaJentz,MassachusettsAssociationofSpecialEducators BobKurtz,Consultant RichLabrie,Consultant MichaelLaliberte,NorthRiverCollaborative ChristineLynch,MassachusettsDepartmentofElementaryandSecondaryEducation JimMajor,MassachusettsAssociationofApprovedPrivateSchools GerryMazor,LABBBCollaborative AnneMcKenzie,LowerPioneerValleyEducationalCollaborative JaySullivan,MassachusettsDepartmentofElementaryandSecondaryEducation SteveTheall,MassachusettsOrganizationofEducationalCollaboratives 1112 High Street, PO Box 186, Dedham, MA x Fax

3 ExecutiveSummary MassachusettsSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationProject TheMassachusettsSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationTaskForcehasbeenengagedina several yearinitiativedesignedtoaddresstherisingcostofspecialneedsstudent transportation.thetaskforceisledbythemassachusettsorganizationofeducational Collaboratives(MOEC)andincludesrepresentativesoftheAdministratorsofSpecial Education(ASE),theMassachusettsAssociationofSchoolBusinessOfficials(MASBO),the MassachusettsAssociationofSchoolCommittees(MASC),theMassachusettsAssociationof SchoolSuperintendents(MASS),theMassachusettsAssociationforPupilTransportation (MAPT),andtheMassachusettsAssociationof766ApprovedPrivateSchools(maaps). Betweenfiscalyears1995and2003,thecostsforspecialeducationtransportationgrewby 89%comparedtoa50%costincreaseforregulareducationtransportation.Transportation costsforthesestudentsbecameoneofthefastestgrowingbudgetitemsforschooldistricts. Thestatelegislaturecreatedataskforcetoaddresstheissue.Asaresultoftheirefforts, themassachusettsspecialneedsstudenttransportationnetworkprojectwasfundedto explorestrategiesto: Reducethehighcostsofout of districttransportation Improvethequalityoftransportationservices Avoidrouteoverlap,congestion,andlongdelaysatsitepick upanddrop offs ProjectOverviewandBackground Representativesfromparticipatingprofessionaleducationalorganizationsestablishedthe TaskForcetoaddressconcernsabouttherapidlyincreasingcostsofspecialeducation transportation.overatwo yearperiod,theydevelopedapilotmodelproposal.three EducationalCollaborativesagreedtoserveasregionalgranteesandassistineffortsto extendtransportationservicestoothercollaboratives.theywere: ACCEPTEducationCollaborativeinNatick AssabetValleyCollaborativeinMarlborough LowerPioneerValleyEducationalCollaborativeinWestSpringfield EachoftheseCollaborativeshadanextensivehistoryofprovidinghighquality,costeffectivetransportationservicestotheirmemberdistricts.Inaddition,severalother MassachusettsCollaborativescoordinatedstudenttransportationtoholddowncostsfor theirmemberdistricts.seetheappendixforalistofthesecollaborativesandtheirmember districts.thisinformationisalsoavailableonthemoecwebsite: Theobjectiveofthegrantswastoextendcost savingservicestoregionsofthestatenot alreadyserved.initially,grantfundswereusedtoorganizethestateintoseveral Inter CollaborativeTransportationNetworks.Thedevelopmentofthesenetworksandthe servicestheyprovidedisdetailedinastudyconductedbythedonahueinstituteofthe

4 UniversityofMassachusetts.Thereportsuppliesextensivedocumentationofparticipation levelsandananalysisoftheissues,andcanbeaccessedonthemoecwebsite: TheMassachusettsmulti yearstudenttransportationinitiativehasproducedsomenotable outcomes: Thetotalreportedsavingsoverthefive yeargrantperiodis$7,345,000. Thesesavingsweretheresultofincreasedcommunicationandcooperationamongdistricts andwithtransportationproviders,greatercompetitionamongproviders,improvedcost transparency,andlowerper pupilcostsresultingfromsharedridership.theaccrued savingswouldbesubstantiallygreaterifcostavoidancewereincludedinthetotal.cost avoidanceisthereductionintransportationcostsfromthecostbaselineestablishedforthe yearpriortothestartofnetworkedtransportation. Thequalityofspecialeducationtransportationhasbeenimproved. ManynetworksandCollaborativeshavepurchasedandusedroutingsoftware. Improvedvehiclecommunicationcapabilitieshavebeenestablished. Mostvehiclesarenowequippedwithglobalpositioningsystems. ChildFindmonitoringdevicesarebeinginstalledinmanyvehicles. Monitoringofdriversandmonitorshasbeenincreased. Improveddrivertrainingexpectationsandstandardshavebeenestablished. Additionalmaterialshavebeenprepared;moredriversandmonitorsarebeing trained. Thestudenttransportationinfrastructurehasbeensubstantiallyenhanced,andthe improvementsareprojectedtolastwellbeyondthelifeoftheproject. PreviouslyexistingCollaborativeandnetworktransportationproviderswillcontinueto providecost effectiveservicetomemberdistrictswhilethenewlycreatednetworkswill expandservicetoadditionalmemberdistricts. Networkshavebegunexpandingservicestootherareaswithpotentialforsavings. Inadditiontoprovidingout of districttransportationforspecialneedsstudents,networks arealsoresearchingopportunitiestoprovideregularschooltransportationand cooperativepurchasingoftransportation relateditemssuchasfuel,aswellasaddressing thepossibilityoftransportinghomelessstudents. TheSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationTaskForcewillcontinuetoserveasan importantinfluenceandadvocacygroup. TheTaskForceservesasaninformationdispenserandanadvocatetoensuretheefficient andcost effectivetransportationofspecialeducationstudents.itscontinuationasanentity willprovideanexcellentstructureforunitingvariousinterestsandconstituenciestowork effectivelytogetherforacommongoal.

5 Networkshavebecomerecognizedasviableagentsformulti districtcooperation andasameansforreducingexpenses. InanApril2009surveyofschoolbusinessmanagers,82%ofmorethan100respondents indicatedthattheyhadbeenmadeawareofthetransportationnetworkintheirarea.95% ofthebusinessmanagersreportedthattheysawpotentialbenefitsinjoiningsucha network. ContinuingChallenges Effortstoestablishmulti studentridershipacrossschooldistrictshaveencountered severalchallengesthathavemadeitdifficulttoincreasenetworkparticipation.these challengeshavealsohadanimpactontheabilitytoprovidemulti district,shared transportationatareasonablecost.issuesthathindertheuseofsharedtransportation include: Challengesassigningstudentstovehicles o Behaviordisorders o Significantagedifferences o Medicalconditions Challengesincludingdistrictsinnetworks o Districtsatisfactionwiththeircurrentserviceandprices o Parentalconcernsthatrestrictsomedistrictsfromusingamulti districtmodel o Multi yearvendorcontractsthatprecludeparticipationinanetworkatthistime o State mandatedridetimeofnomorethananhour o Districtsthatemploytheirowndriverstooperatetheirownvehicles

6 Summaryof TaskForceStatewideActivitiesandAccomplishments Infiscalyear2010,theMassachusettsDepartmentofElementaryandSecondaryEducation continuedtosupportthetransportationinitiativebyprovidingmoecwith$100,000to sustaintheprogressofthespecialneedsstudenttransportationtaskforceinitiatives. Thesegrantfundsweretobeusedtoprovidestafftrainingandtechnicalassistanceto networksandindividualcollaborativesthatmetthefollowingcriteria: Providedsignificantevidenceofacommitmenttoparticipate Appearedtohaveareasonablechancetosucceed Producedanactionplanthatincludedspecificsteps,atimetable,andoutcomes Developedastrategydesignedtogeneratesufficientincometosupporttherequired ongoingadministrativeservices Severalproposalsweresubmitted,andawardsweregranted.Thegrantsweremadetothe SouthCoastNetwork,theSouthernWorcesterCountyEducationalCollaborative/Cityof Worcester,andtheBi County,BlackstoneValley,andFLLACCollaboratives.Thefollowing outcomessummarizetheproject saccomplishmentsduring : Organizednewnetworks Heightenedawarenessoftheneedtoreducecostsandimprovespecialneeds studenttransportationservices Collectedanddisseminatedrelevantdata Providedaforumfordiscussionofrelatedtopics Advocatedforparticipationbyadditionaldistricts Addressedregulatoryandlegislativeissuesandotherconcernsthatimpactthe qualityandcostofspecialeducationstudenttransportation Maintainedcommunicationwiththelegislature,stateagencies,andprofessional organizationsrelatingtopupiltransportation Monitorednetworkactivitytoensurecompliancewithgranttermsandconditions Establishedcostbaselinesthatweredisseminatedtodistrictstohelpthemcompare transportationcosts,negotiatewithvendorsmoreeffectively,andattaincost savings Supportedthefurtherdevelopmentofexistingandnewtransportationnetworks Assistednetworkstoexpandthenumberofparticipatingdistricts Providedtrainingandtechnicalassistancetothenetworksbydevelopingand disseminatinginformationondrivertraining,safetypoliciesandprocedures,cost sharing,billingmodels,andexamplesofbestpractices Respondedtonetworkrequestsforothertrainingandtechnicalassistance Facilitatedinter networkinformationexchangeandcooperation ServedinanadvisoryroletonetworksonstatemandatesandRegistryofMotor Vehiclepupiltransportationrequirements Workedwithprivateschoolstodevelopmechanismstomonitorservicesandassist intrainingdriversandmonitors

7 Maintainedcommunicationwithstateagenciesandprofessionalorganizations relatingtopupiltransportationbyparticipatinginmeetings,circulatingdocuments andinformation,anddevelopingandfacilitatinginteragencycooperation. SummaryofTransportationActivitiesandAccomplishmentsbyRegionorNetwork Thefollowingarebriefdescriptionsofeachtransportationregionandareportofthe significantactivitiesandaccomplishmentsoffy2010,togetherwithfutureplans. TheMetroBostonregionincludesmemberdistrictsoftheLABBB,EDCO,andCASE Collaboratives.TheMetroBostonTransportationNetworkwasorganized,withLABBB servingasthenetwork sleadcollaborative.thearlington,belmont,burlington,lexington, Watertown,andWalthamdistrictsareparticipating. The Metro Boston Network has completed its third year of providing out-of-districttransportation.itisfullyself sustaining withouttheneedforoutsidefundingasitcontinuestogrowandimproveitssystem.since itsinception,estimatedsavingsof$720,000havebeenreportedbyparticipatingdistricts. InFY2011,theMetroBostonNetworkistransporting328students. TheMetroWestregionincludesdistrictsfromtheBi County,ACCEPT,SPOKE,andTEC Collaboratives.Thisregioncontains32schooldistrictswith874studentsenrolledin publicorprivateout ofdistrictprograms.infy2010,matchinggrantfundswereprovided tothebi CountyCollaborativetocontractwithaconsultantforroutingandcostanalysis andtoextendtransportationservicestothetecdistrictsthatwerealreadyusingthesame transportationvendor.theattleboro,dedham,franklin,foxboro,kingphilipregional, Mansfield,Needham,Norfolk,Plainville,Walpole,andWrenthamdistrictsareparticipating. Thedistrictshaveenteredintoanewthree yearcontractthatwillsaveaminimumof $400,000overthelifeofthecontract.Theparticipatingdistrictshaveallocatedfundsto retaintheservicesofapart timetransportationcoordinator. TheSoutheastTransportationNetworkisinitsfourthyearofoperation,serving memberdistrictsofthenorthriver,southshore,andpilgrimareacollaboratives.infy 2011,NorthRiverCollaborativewillprovideNetworktransportationfor14member districts(abington,bridgewater,cohasset,eastbridgewater,freetownlakeville,hanover, Hingham,Kingston,Norwell,Pembroke,Rockland,WestBridgewater,Weymouth,and Whitman Hanson),transporting233studentsto51privateschoolsandprograms.Since itsinception,thisnetworkhassaveditsparticipatingdistrictsapproximately$929,000. TheNortheastNetwork,managedbytheSEEMCollaborative,contractsfortransportation ofmorethan700specialneedsstudentsfrommemberdistrictsofseem,greaterlawrence EducationalCollaborative,ShoreCollaborative,NorthshoreEducationConsortium,andthe MerrimackSpecialEducationCollaborative.TheAndover,Chelmsford,Chelsea,Danvers, Dracut,Everett,Lawrence,Lowell,Lynnfield,Malden,Marblehead,Masconomet,Methuen, Nahant,NorthAndover,NorthReading,Newburyport,Peabody,Pentucket,Reading,Salem, Stoneham,Swampscott,Revere,Topsfield,Triton,Wakefield,Wilmington,Winchester,and Woburndistrictsareparticipating.ThisNetworkcovers61schooldistrictswith3,177

8 studentsenrolledinpublicorprivateout ofdistrictprograms.sinceitsinception,the Networkhassaveditsdistrictsover$3,100,000,withsavingscontinuinginFY2011. TheCentralMassachusettsregionincludesmemberdistrictsoftheFLLAC,CAPS,Assabet Valley,SouthernWorcesterCounty,andBlackstoneValleyCollaboratives,plustheCityof Worcester.Itencompasses58schooldistrictswith1,508studentsenrolledinpublicor privateout ofdistrictprograms. InFY2010,theBlackstoneValleyCollaborativeusedgrantfundstodevelopmulti district transportation,resultinginasavingsofapproximately$230,000.thebellingham, Mendon Upton,Hopedale,Milford,Northbridge,andUxbridgedistrictsareparticipating. GrantfundswerealsoprovidedtoSouthernWorcesterCountyEducationalCollaborativeto extenditstransportationservicestoadditionaldistricts.presently35studentsfrom SouthbridgeandtheCityofWorcesterareparticipatingatasavingsof$426,000. GrantfundswerealsoprovidedtotheFLLACCollaborativeinnorthernWorcesterCounty toorganizemulti districttransportationforinterestedmemberdistricts.theseinclude Ashburnham Westminster,Clinton,Gardner,Leominster,andWestBoylston.InFY2011, sixstudentsarebeingtransportedtofllacprogramsatanestimatedsavingsof$45,000. TheSouthCoastregionincludesdistrictmembersoftheREADS,Southeastern Massachusetts,andSouthCoastCollaboratives.Theregioncovers22schooldistrictsthat enroll688studentsinpublicorprivateout ofdistrictprograms.fy2010grantfundswere usedtodevelopasouthcoaststudenttransportationnetwork.thefundsalsoallowedthe SoutheasternMassachusettsCollaborativetoexpanditscurrenttransportationprogram. TheexpandedprogramnowservestheAcushnet,Fairhaven,Mattapoisett,Marion,and Rochesterschooldistricts.Theprojectedsavingsfortheadditionalroutesestablishedfor FY2010is$70,000.TransportationisprovidedonlytoCollaborativeprograms. Conclusion Sincetheinceptionofthepilotprogramandtheimplementationofstatewidenetworks, substantialsavingshavebeendocumentedinthecostofspecialeducationtransportation forthecommonwealth sschooldistricts.inregionswherenetworkshavebeenableto attractwidespreaddistrictparticipation,therehavebeenremarkablelevelsofcooperation. Eachyearoftheprojecttherehavebeenincreasesinthenumberofparticipatingdistricts, studentridership,andtransportationcostsavings. Despitetheseimpressiveresults,significantopportunitiesremaintoincludeadditional districtsandexpandthenetworks.thetaskforceintendstocontinuetosupportthe networks,sustaintheirviability,promotecostefficiencies,andcreateopportunitiesfor greaterparticipationforeverydistrictinthecommonwealth.

9 Appendix SeveralotherCollaboratives,althoughnotparticipatinginnetworkedtransportationand thereforenotincludedintheabovereport,alsoprovidestudenttransportation.theyhave extensivetransportationexperienceandproducesignificantsavingsformemberdistricts. ThefollowingisalistoftheseCollaborativesandtheirmemberdistricts. ACCEPTCollaborative:Ashland,Dover,Dover/Sherborn,Framingham,Franklin,Holliston, Hopkinton,Medfield,Medway,Millis,Natick,Sherborn,SouthMiddlesexRegional VocationalDistrict,Sudbury AssabetValleyCollaborative:AssabetValleyRegional,Berlin,Bolton,Boylston,Berlin BoylstonRegional,Hudson,Lancaster,Marlborough,Maynard,NashobaRegional, Northborough,Southborough,Northborough SouthboroughRegional,Shrewsbury,Stow, Westborough CapeCodCollaborative:Barnstable,Brewster,Bourne,CapeCodRegionalVocational TechnicalSchool,Chatham,Dennis/YarmouthRegional,Eastham,Falmouth,Harwich, Martha svineyardregional,mashpee,nausetregional,nantucket,orleans,provincetown, Sandwich,Truro,UpperCapeCodRegionalTechnicalSchool,Wareham,Wellfleet CASECollaborative:Acton,Acton/BoxboroughRegional,Bedford,Boxborough,Carlisle, Concord,Concord/CarlisleRegional,Harvard,Lincoln,Lincoln/SudburyRegional,Littleton, Maynard,Sudbury LowerPioneerValleyCollaborative:Agawam,EastLongmeadow,Hampden Wilbraham Regional,Longmeadow,Ludlow,Southwick TollandRegional,WestSpringfield MerrimackSpecialEducationCollaborative:Billerica,Chelmsford,Dracut,Groton Dunstable,NashobaValleyRegional,NorthMiddlesexRegional,Tewksbury,Tyngsborough, Westford,WhittierRegionalVocationalTechnicalSchool SouthernWorcesterCountyEducationalCollaborative:Auburn,Dudley Charlton,Grafton, Leicester,Millbury,Northbridge,NorthBrookfield,Oxford,QuaboagRegional,Southbridge, Spencer/EastBrookfield,Sutton,TantasquaUnion61Regional,Webster TheseCollaborativesprovidemulti districtsharedtransportationbutonlytotheirown programs: CAPS:Ashburnham WestminsterRegional,Athol/RoyalstonRegional,Fitchburg,Gardner, MaharRegional,NarragansettRegional,OrangeElementary,PetershamCenterSchool, QuabbinRegional,Winchendon LABBB:Arlington,Bedford,Belmont,Burlington,Lexington

10 NorthshoreEducationConsortium:Beverly,Danvers,Gloucester,Hamilton Wenham,Lynn, Lynnfield,Manchester Essex,Marblehead,Masconomet,Nahant,NorthReading,Peabody, Reading,Rockport,Salem,Swampscott,Triton,Tri townunion SoutheasternMassachusettsEducationalCollaborative:Acushnet,Dartmouth,Fairhaven, Marion,Mattapoisett,NewBedford,OldRochesterRegional,Rochester TEC:Canton,Dedham,Dover,Dover/Sherborn,Framingham,Holliston,Hopkinton, Medfield,Millis,Natick,Needham,Norwood,Sherborn,Walpole,Wayland,Wellesley, Westwood GreaterLawrenceEducationalCollaborative:Andover,Amesbury,Boxford,Georgetown, GreaterLawrenceTech.,Hamilton WenhamRegionalDistrict,Haverhill,Ipswich, Lawrence,Lowell,Methuen,Middleton,Newburyport,NorthAndover,PentucketRegional, Topsfield,TritonRegional

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12 Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives 1112 High Steet Post Office Box 186 Dedham, MA x Fax