MONROE - The number of students being referred to special education in the Monroe school district has decreased in the last few years, dropping into the range of 30 to 40 referrals per year, according to Director of Pupil Services Joe Monroe. Monroe attributes the decrease to the quality of the district's special education and to its regular education, where teachers are asking themselves what benefit students get by being labeled "special ed." In the last two years, the district has exceeded the state average in scores on standardized tests by special education students.