Silkeborg plans put special education support at risk

Proposed changes to special education funding in Silkeborg Municipality could reduce support for vulnerable pupils and increase the risk of school refusal, parents and a school leader warn, DR reports.

For 11 year old Viktor Holm, school has finally become a place where he thrives. Viktor, who has ADHD, attends the inclusion centre at Langsøskolen, a specialist programme for children who need additional support during the school day.

“I think it is a good school,” Viktor says.

His experience was very different at his previous school, where he often sat alone in the corridor because he struggled to sit still and fit into a mainstream class.

Now his mother, Anne Holm, fears that planned changes will significantly worsen the conditions at Langsøskolen.

Silkeborg Municipality has spent 24 million kroner more than budgeted on special education this year. In response, politicians have proposed reallocating funding, which could lead to cuts at several specialist programmes.

“It is a drastic reduction and a drastic restructuring of a school that works very well and supports children who otherwise struggle,” Anne Holm says.

She says she understands that the municipality must address overspending in special education, but does not believe the burden should fall on children who are already experiencing difficulties and poor wellbeing.

School leader warns of fewer staff

The proposals have not yet been formally adopted. If they are approved, Langsøskolen will have to cut its spending by about 30 per cent over the next three years, according to headteacher Jakob Kleist.

He says the only realistic way to achieve that would be to reduce the number of employees.

“When there are fewer adults in the classroom, the children are affected. Some may find things even more difficult and become more disruptive, while others may no longer want to go to school,” Kleist says.

The need for specialised support in Denmark’s public schools has been increasing, putting pressure on municipalities as the cost of special education rises.

According to Local Government Denmark, 27.4 per cent of the total budget for public schools was spent on segregated special education in 2023. This covers pupils receiving education separately from mainstream classes, either in a special class at a public school or at a dedicated special school. The figure rose to 28 per cent last year.

Kleist also says school leaders were not involved in preparing the changes, even though they are normally consulted when Silkeborg Municipality makes major decisions about schools.

“I wish we had been allowed to contribute, because this is not the right way to do it,” he says.

Committee chair calls changes future proofing

Jonas Sivertsen of the Social Democrats, who chairs the municipal school committee, says the funding model needed to change because its structure had become “completely unmanageable”.

He says pupils with the same diagnosis and challenges have received very different levels of support in different parts of the municipality.

The aim is to slow the rising cost of special education, which is putting pressure on mainstream schools. More emphasis will instead be placed on special classes at local public schools.

“I understand the parents’ concerns when resources are removed. We are looking at future proofing the school system. Ultimately, we want to create much broader frameworks in schools than we have today, so that many more children can attend our public schools,” Sivertsen says.

The changes decided by the school committee have been submitted for consideration in the municipality’s budget process. The budget is due to be finally adopted at the beginning of October.