Chicago Public Schools reverses special education cuts

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago Public Schools officials have reversed course and will add dozens of teacher and aide positions for students with special needs.

Earlier this year, school officials announced the district would cut special education positions. The Chicago Tribune reports (http://trib.in/1Nu6piz) that on Wednesday, district officials said an unspecified "flawed funding formula" and an appeals process led it to not only restore some of its earlier cuts, but add positions.

District spokeswoman Emily Bittner said the result is that this year's budget for special education spending is "largely unchanged" from the last budget year. She adds that will mean ad increase in the district's budget deficit.

When the cuts were announced, advocates, parents and principals questioned whether the school district could adhere to legal regulations governing funding and services for special education students.

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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com