The purpose of the external report was to complete an analysis of the overall work United Services has provided over the years, and also to perform a cost comparison for providing similar services between United Services, the Boonslick State School for the Severely Handicapped, and the state of Missouri programs for children with disabilities age birth-three, and age three-five. Some statistical tests were performed with data from all three units, and a synopsis of the results follows.

First, a statistical difference was found between the percentage of children who entered a self-contained classroom and the percentage of children who entered a regular Kindergarten classroom at age five after attending United Services. A significantly higher portion of students entered a regular classroom compared to a self-contained classroom.

Results also showed that there was a weak, negative correlation between the numbers of students enrolled at Boonslick and the number of students enrolled at United Services during the past ten years. There is a linear negative trend; in other words, as the number of students increased at United Services, the number of students at Boonslick decreased.

The cost analysis of Boonslick compared to United Services (using the age 3-5 range) showed that there is definitely a significant difference in cost per child each year. In other words, United Services is spending much less per student than Boonslick over this time period. A statistical test on cost of United Services and cost per child for the State of Missouri was also performed. Regarding the birth through three group, it is difficult to interpret since the state changed the way it calculated its annual cost per child and there are fewer years of data. When comparing United Services cost per child in the three through five age category with the state cost per child, it is evident that United Services is consistently lower in overall cost. The test showed a significant difference between the average cost for United Services over this time period ($6856.70) and the average cost for the state of Missouri ($8587.10).

In summary, United Services is continuing to serve an increasing number of special needs children ages birth through five. The information shows that even though cost is increasing, more students are continually coming to United Services, more students are entering Kindergarten with no or minimal accommodations, and United Services continues to spend less per child in all age groups than the state of Missouri and Boonslick school. Please see the full report for further details.