Alaska school districts cannot find teachers for 200 special education positions statewide, forcing some schools to operate without a resident special education teacher, education officials told lawmakers Tuesday. Public Testifier Melissa Matthews testified before the Joint Education Committee that while overall student enrollment has stayed steady since 2021, the number of students with disabilities has grown. Some districts now rely on itinerant staff who travel between schools to supervise paraprofessionals. "Special education is not optional and is a non-negotiable legal obligation for school districts," Matthews said. Districts face full liability for providing services regardless of staffing or budget constraints. The shortage has pushed districts into expensive national and international recruitment efforts. They spend money on travel, relocation and visa fees while still unable to fill positions. Districts also struggle with what Matthews called a "vacancy tax." They spend more on temporary solutions like contracted virtual services and travel costs instead of maintaining a stable workforce. Virtual services "cannot fully replace in-person care, especially for students with significant physical needs," she said. Superintendent Randy Trani reported the current Base Student Allocation has less buying power than previous years. This contributes to widespread budget pressures that force administrators to focus on budget management rather than academic leadership. The staffing crisis affects communities from Ketchikan to Utqiagvik, where students with disabilities need consistent, qualified support to succeed in school.