09-10 Special Education Leadership Meetings – See handout with list of meetings.

09-10 Special Education Conference – October 14, 15, 16, 2009

Public Reporting Update – TAA letter and District Profiles of State Performance Plan Indicators will be posted prior to May 1. This profile will include Indicators 1, 2, 3A-C, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. Indictors 8 and 14 will be reported at the regional level due to small numbers. Indicator 6 was not required to be reported in FFY 2007 (2007-08 data).

Compliance Update

·  The State is in the process of notifying districts on their compliance with the data they reported last year for Indicators 11, 12, and 13.

·  Noncompliance reported that represents an isolated incident in the district may be addressed through the submittal of the Explanation/Resolution Form.

·  A larger percentage of noncompliance that may indicate serious systemic issues must be addressed through the submittal of the SPP Corrective Action Plan.

·  The timeline for correction is as soon as possible but not later than one year after the written notification of the noncompliance.

·  OSEP’s FAQ on the Identification and Correction of Noncompliance can be accessed at http://spp-apr-calendar.rrfcnetwork.org/explorer/view/id/530.

Significant Disproportionality – The State has revised its methodology for identifying districts for significant Disproportionality. The focus of the methodology is still on the over identification of students in the special education program and with students of specific disabilities in all five race and ethnicity categories. After the methodology is approved, the guidance on the methodology will be posted to the web. To the Administrator Addressed Letters will be issued shortly thereafter. The detailed analysis of educational environment and discipline data will be phased in over time.

Determinations – April 2009: 2008 Notification for Needs Assistance or lower for two or more consecutive years

TEA will issue TAA letters to select districts that were “Needs Assistance” or lower for 2005-06 (Determinations 2007) and 2006-07 (Determinations 2008). There are less than 24 districts that met that criteria. As a result of meeting that criteria, those districts will be required to submit a “Technical Assistance Documentation” form to the TEA by August 2009. ESCs will be provided a list of these NA2 districts.

Determinations – May 2009: 2009 Determinations

TEA will issue TAA letters to all districts on their preliminary 2009 Determination Levels (2007-08 data). The Determination Levels are preliminary since districts that “Need Intervention” or “Need Substantial Intervention” have 30 days to appeal their determination level. After districts have exhausted the appeals process, the Determination Levels become final. Note: Districts that “Meet the Requirements” or “Needs Assistance” cannot appeal, therefore, their preliminary Determination Level is considered final. ESCs will be provided the preliminary Determination Level list in May.

Determinations – June 2009: 2009 Notification for Needs Assistance or lower for two or more consecutive years

After the 2009 Determination Levels become final (appeals deadline has passed), the TEA will issue TAA letters to select districts that were that were “Needs Assistance” or lower for 2006-07 (Determinations 2008) and 2007-08 (Determinations 2009). As a result of meeting that criteria, those districts will be required to submit a “Technical Assistance Documentation” form to the TEA by August 2010. ESCs will be provided a list of these districts as well as the final Determination Level list.

SPP/APR Update

We have received preliminary feedback on the State’s submission on its SPP/APR. Overall, there were few concerns with the submission. Those concerns have been addressed and we will await OSEP’s final verdict in June during the State Determination time period. The most current versions of the SPP/APR will be posted at that time.

Maintenance of Effort – Compare your MOE for 2006-2007 to 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 to 2006-2007. Letters with MOE issues due to LEAs soon for 2006-2007 to 2005-2006. Contact Linda McDaniel or Shirley Sanford for assistance.

Maintenance of Effort Reduction Restriction– To reduce local effort for the special education program using the 50% difference in IDEA-B entitlements between two consultative years the districts must meet the state targets for all State Performance Indicators.

Excess Cost Requirement – Important to verify this information. Forms posted on ESC Region XIII Special Education Web Site. Contact Shirley Sanford for Assistance.

Coaching - If interested in finding out about coaching for educational leaders or being coached, contact Linda McDaniel, 919-5225 or

Significantly Disproportionality – Still Waiting Identification of districts significantly over identifying certain students with disabilities will be sent to districts any day. TEA may include disciplinary placements and educational environments in this identification. Contact Yvette Alvarado or Shirley Sanford for assistance.

SPP Indicator 7 – Application will open April 27, 2009 and close December 2009. Enter exit data from 2007-08 and 2008-09. Enter new students from 2008-09. Enter any 2007-2008 student records where a PET match was not achieved during the Spring 2009 data cleanup.

SPP Indicator 13 – Application will open April 13 and will close August 30. Complete the forms before school is out for the summer and you have until August to enter the information.

Non-Ed Funds - Monitor the expenditure of funds awarded your district. If you do not anticipate spending all the funds awarded by the end of August, please notify Linda McDaniel or Don Eckelbarger. The funds can be returned to Region XIII and re-allocated to other students.

May, 2009 SELN Meeting – Register for Workshop # SP0912058

May , 2009 Curriculum Council Meeting – Register for Workshop # SP0912002

June , 2009 Curriculum council Meeting – Register for Workshop # SU912003