The Connellsville Area School District received a $4,495,460 supplement for special education services in 2010. For the 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the costs of the services the respective students required. For the 2014-2015 school year, Connellsville Area School District received an increase to $4,553,5302 from the Commonwealth for special education funding. Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The district must apply for this added funding. In 2013, the state's Special Education Funding Reform Commission provided a report on the state of funding for special education in the Commonwealth. Funding for special education programs is borne largely on a local basis at 60%, with the state contributing $1 billion or 30% and the federal government providing 10% of the funding. Connellsville Area School District Administration reported that 175 or 3.18% of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student's building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test, by a school psychologist. A Gifted Individualized Education Plan is developed for each gifted student. Other factors that indicate giftedness are also considered for eligibility. In 2011, the district saw a one percent increase in students who qualify for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program due to low family income. In 2010 57% of students were enrolled in the program. In 2011, enrollment increased to 58%. The district runs a federally funded, free lunch program during the summer months at several elementary schools. Pennsylvania public school districts budget and expend funds according to procedures mandated by the General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). An annual operating budget is prepared by school district administrative officials. A uniform form is furnished by the PDE and submitted to the board of school directors for approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year on July 1. Under Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, all school districts of the first class A, second class, third class and fourth class must adopt a preliminary budget proposal.