High Cost Child Claims

High-Cost Child Claims

At this time, all HCC funds for FY26 have been fully exhausted, and we are unable to accept new claims

The funding mechanisms for High-Cost Child Claims have moved from Grants Management into the ESS Vouchers Application.

Please ensure your PEA staff have been given the appropriate role to access the application.

ESS High Cost: PEA User

High-Cost Child Claims Quick Reference Guide

Review the ESS Claims webinar video and materials in the training section below.

Fiscal Year 2027 High-Cost Child (HCC) claims will open on October 1, 2026. As ESS reviews high-cost child applications, we will approach applications with the following mindset.

First, ESS will limit how much can be claimed for a particular student(s) or an entity to ensure the funds address high-cost students equitably across the state. The primary focus of these funds is to reimburse direct/charter services for eligible students and remove some or all the burden from as many PEAs as possible, this first year. Second, we will reserve approval timelines to ensure the funds do not deplete within the first 30 days of the deployment. This is to provide time for PEAs to get into the application and submit items, but not drain the funds immediately, allowing PEAs to access the funds for the initial launch. Third, ESS will focus more severely on unexpected expenditures than on recurring funds. Tuition for returning private school students would not generally meet the criterion as an unexpected burden that the state would have to relieve from a PEA.  ESS will adjust the criteria as the needs of students and the PEAs change throughout the state.

We are currently evaluating whether additional funding can be made available for the HCC program and will provide an update as soon as more information becomes available.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact the ESS Program Management Inbox.

ESS Claims Summary Template (Revised 11/2022 to include FY24 state aid reimbursement rates.)

Page Revised on 04/28/2026