Special Education Millage Proposal

The election is on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots will be available
starting Thursday, March 27, 2025, and can be mailed or delivered to election boxes until Election Day.

State and federal funding only covers around 42% of the funds needed for mandatory special education services. In order to maintain programming at current levels, the remainder of costs must be funded through a special education millage, or local public school districts and academies must cover the gap by diverting funds from general education programs and services that serve all students. This millage would help cover the gap caused by underfunding at the state and federal levels, currently leaving Ottawa Area ISD public school districts and academies districts underfunded by, on average, $14.5 million, annually.

Voters will consider a 20-year Special Education Millage proposal, including an 18-year renewal of the 1.2425 mills approved by voters in 2007 and a 20-year restoration of 0.5000 mills which have been reduced due to Headlee rollbacks. For a $100,000 home (taxable value $50,000), this would increase annual taxes from $62.13 to $87.13 or $25.00 per year.

All students. Local public school districts and academies in the Ottawa Area ISD would benefit from restored special education funding, freeing up general education funds expected to be used to support programs and services for all students.

In Michigan, only intermediate school districts can place a special education millage proposal on the ballot. OAISD provides direct services to local public school districts and academies, including speech, occupational therapy, Autism Spectrum Disorder programs, transportation, adaptive technology and more, and distributes funds to local districts through the Special Education Funding system.

Michigan law mandates that school districts provide special education services for individuals with disabilities from
birth to age 26, or until they graduate from high school. Students may qualify for services under one or more of
13 disability categories:

Ottawa Area ISD, in partnership with local school districts, supports the academic and functional development of over
7,000 students with disabilities, representing about 13% of the total student population in the OAISD service area.

Students eligible for special education services come from diverse backgrounds. Some are born with disabilities, while
others may become eligible due to accidents, illness, or other unexpected life events. Regardless of how
they come to need support, our commitment is to provide them with the resources and opportunities they need
to thrive and succeed.

The public school district where a private school is located is responsible for providing special education services to eligible private school students. Public schools are also required by federal law (IDEA Part B) to allocate a portion of the federal dollars it receives equitably, which includes special education and related services for eligible private school students. 

Private school students with disabilities may receive the following services from the local public school district under
the equitable services provision of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):

Revenue distribution follows a formula approved by local superintendents and the Michigan Department of Education,
based on special education needs in each district. The amount of revenue that local districts and academies receive is based on the cost of educating the number of special education students residing in the district. More than 70% of the money received from the levy is sent directly to local public school districts and academies.