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Monday, January 12, 2015

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education (OSEP) is requiring states to develop a new indicator as part of its progress monitoring system

Did you know that your state is writing a new plan to submit to the U.S. Dept of Education to show how they will improve the educational results of children with disabilities?  You need to be involved!  
If you have not done so already, call or email your State Department of Education to get involved now!   Feel free to share this alert with others.  
ISSUE:  The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education (OSEP) is requiring states to develop a new indicator as part of its progress monitoring system (#17 for Part B and #11 for Part C) – The State Systemic Improvement Plan— or SSIP.  Stakeholders are required to be involved in the development of the multi-year plan to implement the new indicator/SSIP.   
The SSIP is due back to OSEP in February 2015.
BACKGROUND
OSEP is currently revising how it holds States accountable for educating children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Concerned that the achievement and graduation rates of students with disabilities have remained low for many years, OSEP is now refocusing its accountability system to emphasize achieving improved results for children with disabilities while also continuing to monitor compliance under IDEA.  This new approach is called results-driven accountability (RDA).  As part of RDA, OSEP is also requiring states to develop a new indicator as part of the Annual Performance Report (APR) for both Parts B and C -the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP). The SSIP is a multi-year plan that must describe how the state will improve outcomes for IDEA-eligible children. With a deadline of February 2015 for the SSIP, States are writing their plans for Part B and Part C now.  OSEP has required that states involve local stakeholders.    
COPAA has met with OSEP on numerous occasions and has submitted formal comments as OSEP proposed the RDA process, which included the new indicator, or SSIP. Read COPAA Comments 
ACT NOW:  It is essential that COPAA members visit their state department of education website and find out what states are doing to develop the SSIP.  Get involved, ask questions and become part of the process to develop the SSIP because millions of students with disabilities need you to help ensure the new indicator will in fact support and lead to better student outcomes. 
 Suggested speaking points when you call or email include:
 "I am interested in becoming involved in the state’s efforts to develop the new State System Improvement Plan (SSIP) as required by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education.  This multi-year plan should include the perspective of families who know and understand special education in XX state thru the disability lens.  The law requires that you involve stakeholders with my perspective and I’m volunteering to help.  Please tell me how I can support your efforts to develop a meaningful SSIP.  I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to learning/hearing more."  

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