USDE OSE rates WA OSPI as "needs assistance" with IDEA

June 20, 2019

 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

Honorable Chris Reykdal Superintendent Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Mail stop: 47200. Old Capitol Building P.O. Box 47200 Olympia, WA 98504

Dear Superintendent Reykdal:

I am writing to advise you of the U. S. Department of Education’s (Department) 2019 determination under section 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Department has determined that Washington needs assistance in implementing the requirements of Part B of the IDEA. This determination is based on the totality of the State’s data and information, including the Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2017 State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), other State-reported data, and other publicly available information. Your

The State’s determination for 2018 was also Needs Assistance. In accordance with section 616(e)(1) of the IDEA and 34 C.F.R. § 300.604(a), if a State is determined to need assistance for two consecutive years, the Secretary must take one or more of the following actions: (1) advise the State of available sources of technical assistance that may help the State address the areas in which the State needs assistance and require the State to work with appropriate entities; (2) direct the use of State-level funds on the area or areas in which the State needs assistance; or (3) identify the State as a high-risk grantee and impose Special Conditions on the State’s IDEA Part B grant award.

We are considering several changes to the results factors related to the participation and performance of children with disabilities on assessments, including:

IMPORTANT CHANGES

(1) using Statewide assessment results, rather than the The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) performance data;

(2) looking at year-to-year improvements in Statewide assessment results and taking into account the full Statewide assessment system, including alternate assessments; and

(3) no longer comparing each State’s assessment performance with that of other States.


Finally, OSEP will be revisiting ways of measuring improvement in the graduation rate of students with disabilities.

See the full letter here:

How IDEA funding works.

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