Governor Jenniffer González Colón announced the approval of $118 million to settle the obligations of the Special Education Program (PEE), including the payment of accumulated debts and current obligations for the 2026 fiscal year. The funds come from $635 million in savings from the previous budget.
The governor stated that this approval guarantees the continuity of services for thousands of students. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Orlando Rivera, noted that this result confirms that the FY2026 budget was balanced and that the government was able to meet the program's obligations without compromising fiscal stability.
The governor also highlighted the structural problem faced by the Department of Education due to increasing costs of special services, despite a decline in student enrollment. The process is complicated by the fact that invoices are received months after services are provided and must undergo an internal audit.