Suffolk County agencies last year enrolled 912 infants in special-education programs.

Since then, most children who test positive for the virus have been placed in regular day care or special-education programs with other handicapped children.

And, the commission found, 60 percent of the increased educational spending went for special-education programs.

About 13.5 percent of the system's 1.1 million children are enrolled in special-education programs.

She also signaled skepticism about the proliferation of special-education programs.

For instance, the plan would let school districts increase minimum class sizes for some special-education programs.

Most of these programs were offered to students in low-income families, low performing schools, or special-education programs.

The annual budget for the program, which is one of three special-education programs, is $1 million.

Since the law's passage, nearly half of all new school spending has gone to special-education programs that serve 11 percent of children.

Many residents have no idea at all about the cost of special-education programs.