One in four Vernon students is in special education, and an outside audit says the supports need rebuilding

What happened

An independent special education audit by the consultancy ALL IN was presented to the board on February 19, 2026. It found the district needs to strengthen how it identifies student needs and matches services to them, including reviewing how adult classroom support is used so that help builds independence instead of dependence. The 2026-2027 budget answers the audit with professional development, a new multi-tiered system of supports and interventionists in grades 4 and 5, and the board set up multiple-disabilities classes at Cedar Mountain, Lounsberry Hollow and Rolling Hills for 2026-27.

Why it matters to families

About 25% of Vernon students are classified for special education, which the district says is above both state and national averages, and its special education aid fell $191,258 this year while costs rose. How those services are organised decides what school looks like day to day for hundreds of children.

The evidence

The 2026-2027 budget presentation states that 25% of Vernon students are classified, above state and national averages, that special education aid is $4,803,710, down $191,258, and that the independent audit by ALL IN 'identified specific recommendations to strengthen our approach' which the budget responds to directly. The February 19, 2026 minutes record the audit presentation and the board's questions on the timeline for multi-tiered supports; the April 30, 2026 minutes record the new multiple-disabilities classes.

The source