Autism is growing more prevalent across the nation, a fact that is plainly evident in local schools.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently stated that 1 in 150 children has the disorder, up from previous estimates of 1 in 166. The new data came as no surprise to local educators serving students with autism in increasing numbers.

Southwest County school district officials have watched their populations of autistic students explode over the last four years. In the Temecula and Lake Elsinore school districts, their populations have jumped by about 300 percent.

In the Murrieta school district, the autistic enrollment has grown by 650 percent, an increase of about 100 students.

In comparison, their overall special education and overall student populations only grew by double digits percentage-wise.

"There are so many kids with autism," said Melanie Hertig with Temecula Valley Unified School District's autistic preschool program, which recently expanded by adding another classroom.

The materials for that classroom were paid for by a Temecula couple, Mark and Kathy Anselmo, whose son is autistic. The Anselmos raised about $40,000 last year to help pay for learning tools teachers desperately need for autistic students but the Temecula school district can't readily afford.

The couple is hosting another fundraiser Saturday, one of two large events this month designed to collect money to help local schools handle the surge in autistic students. The second is March 24 for Oak Grove School in Murrieta. It's meant pay for more classrooms for autistic students.

"When you have referrals you turn away because you don't have the space -- it's just more people we could be helping we are not able to," said Oak Grove's Executive Director Tammy Wilson.

More common

It's still unclear to doctors what causes autism, most commonly described as a developmental disorder affecting one's ability to communicate and form relationships. It is characterized by a range of behaviors, including difficulty expressing needs and an inability to socialize.

"Autism is more common than we believed," said Catherine Rice, a behavioral scientist and the lead author of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control's recent study that updated the latest numbers.

Why it is on the rise remains unclear, with people blaming culprits such as genetics and vaccines.

Locally, some parents heavily involved with special education efforts in schools said the rise in autistic students across Southwest County might also be attributable to other factors.

"I think that it's a combination of a bunch of things," said special education advocate Helen Robinson, who represents many families across Southwest County with special-needs children.

A small percentage might be based on the local housing construction boom, she said.

Also, to qualify for services in public schools per state and federal law, a child does not require a medical diagnosis of autism, they only need to meet the educational definition, she said.

Per law, school districts determine that a student has autism or a disorder like autism if he or she exhibits any combination of autistic-like behaviors, such as extreme withdrawal, an obsession to maintain sameness and ritualistic behavior.

"Parents are being more savvy about this," Robinson said. "The public has become much more aware, and I truly believe it's the parents demanding these services (from local school districts)."

Behind the curve

Denise Woolsey, spokeswoman for Riverside County Special Education Local Plan Area's community advisory committee, said over the last decade districts have also added programs to better serve special-needs students, a far cry from the status quo in the 1980s and early 1990s.

"The districts are creating their own programs now or have started autism programs, addressing it more than they have ever before," she said. "But they had these programs in other counties before."

Both Woolsey and Robinson said Southwest County school districts are behind the curve in offering services for special-needs students. Meanwhile, local educators bemoan the growing costs.

The Temecula school board in early February unanimously passed a resolution denouncing the federal government for not paying its fair share of the costs. The resolution states that while the law mandates districts properly serve special-needs students, the feds don't help foot the ballooning bill.

Federal funding covers about 18 percent of the average cost of educating a special-needs or autistic student, Temecula school district officials said. That shortfall has resulted in millions of dollars being diverted from the district's general education fund to cover special education costs, they said.

That's why local autism fundraisers are so critical, said Mark Anselmo.

Last year, he said he got fed up with the red tape involved in getting the proper materials to his son Nicholas' classroom. Mark and his wife, Kathy, put together the inaugural "Auction for Autism" dinner and silent auction at Pechanga that ended up collecting about $40,000.

Since that event in March 2006, the couple has collected wish lists from teachers and purchased hundreds of small and large learning tools for special-needs classrooms, mostly elementary schools.

They are looking forward to repeating -- and hopefully -- redoubling their efforts, they said. With the money they collect this year for their nonprofit Our Nicholas Foundation, they said they hope to help middle school teachers with their wish lists, and possibly some high schools as well.

"That is what we are excited about," he said. "We want to focus on some older kids."

Kathy Anselmo said because of the success of their first fundraiser, community members are reaching out and contacting them to contribute. Last year, the Anselmos were the ones knocking.

"There is this really neat outpouring," she said. "The teachers are seeing results, and are starting to understand this is not just for one program."

In future years, they said they hope to expand and help the Murrieta or Menifee school districts.

"It's just with Temecula, we've barely scratched the surface," Mark Anselmo said. "One of the things that would be really neat is if people in their own communities could run with our concept."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact staff writer Jennifer Kabbany at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2625, or jkabbany@californian.com.

AUCTION FOR AUTISM

WHAT: Fundraiser, with proceeds going to the Cure Autism Now Foundation, Autism Speaks, and the Temecula Valley Unified School District to assist with its efforts to educate autistic children.

WHEN: 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Pechanga Resort & Casino's grand ballroom, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula

FEATURES: Dinner, dancing, music, speakers on autism and a silent auction.

ADMISSION: Tickets are $85 each and must be purchased in advance. Purchase by Wednesday via the Web site: www.auctionforautism.com

INFORMATION: Call (909) 841-4605.

OAK GROVE CLASSROOM ADDITION BENEFIT

WHAT: "An Evening Under the Oaks" fundraiser with proceeds going to Murrieta's Oak Grove School to help defray the cost of a $400,000 expansion project to help serve more autistic students.

WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m. March 24

WHERE: Temeku Hills Country Club, 31346 Rancho California Road, Temecula.

FEATURES: Dinner, music, dancing, silent auction.

ADMISSION: Tickets are $95

INFORMATION: Call (951) 677-5599