(Missourinet) – The state board of education has endorsed a limit to how much the state will reimburse school districts for pre-school special education program lease agreements. The rule would apply to deals made on or before March 2, 2015 and to those renewed after July 1, 2019.

A state legislative committee is expected to consider the rule on Wednesday.

Ron Lankford with the Department of Education said the proposal was created because the Nixa school district wanted a nearly $900,000 annual reimbursement.

“It was a relatively low number of students that were being served,” said Lankford. “That particular cost was what really got our attention. We needed to get this under control because it simply could not be sustained as any kind of a model to go statewide.”

Lankford said a limit has to be set.

“We’re seeking to get a situation of where if the Department finds that a reimbursement through a lease is a reasonable cost, that we can set parameters that really gives it a rational or logical basis,” said Lankford.

He said there are 23 early childhood lease agreements that would be affected by the change.