For-Profit Residential Facilities Exploit Special Education Funds

An Associated Press investigation reveals that many for-profit residential facilities in the 'troubled teen industry' are exploiting loopholes in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to access taxpayer money intended for students with disabilities. These facilities, like Apollo program, operate with diluted regulatory oversight by using stand-alone contracts with individual school districts and drawing out-of-state students. Experts and advocates, including Meg Appelgate of Unsilenced and Jennifer Rodriguez of the Youth Law Center, highlight the lack of standard rules and transparency, leading to potential abuse and financial exploitation. States like United States — California, United States — Colorado, and United States — Maine are implicated in the lack of tracking for out-of-state students. Legislative efforts, such as those by United States — California state Sen. Shannon Grove and United States — Oregon state Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, are underway to increase oversight and regulate educational consultants who facilitate these placements, despite opposition from companies like Embark Behavioral Health.