EDS770 Financial Management & Law for Special Ed Directors (4 cr.)

The emphasis of this course is on budget allocation, planning, reporting, and auditing practices and laws and rules governing special education programs and school districts in Minnesota. Financial systems at the state, district, and school levels are evaluated. The course reviews the historical development of state funding for public education in Minnesota Education case law, contract law, labor relations, policies, and regulations pertinent to special education in Minnesota are discussed. Program and staffing options and dispute resolution processes and resources are examined.

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Describe the historical and current systems of public education funding in Minnesota.
2. Evaluate revenue sources used to finance special education in Minnesota.
3. Apply the principles of fund accounting used in the Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting System for Minnesota Schools (UFARS) in the development of budgets and the chart of accounts.
4. Evaluate differing methods of budget development, their implementation, and their strengths and limitations in special education in Minnesota.
5. Analyze options for staffing special education systems in Minnesota.
6. Analyze the legal issues in special education management.
7. Review, analyze, and interpret federal and Minnesota statutory law related to special education.
8. Apply relevant laws, rules, policies, and regulations to special education.
9. Analyze issues and legal concepts specific to special education school law.