Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to receive Significant Disproportionality Determinations for Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) by February 28, 2020
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) section 618(d) (20 U.S.C. 1418(d)) and § 300.646, states are required to collect and examine data to determine whether significant disproportionality based on race or ethnicity is occurring in the state with respect to the identification of children as children with disabilities, placement of children in particular educational settings; and discipline for students with disabilities. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will notify LEAs who met the state threshold for significant disproportionality by February 28, 2020. An LEA will meet the state threshold for significant disproportionality in special education and be required to set aside 15 percent of its Part B funds under IDEA if the LEA has:
- A risk ratio of 3.0 or above i.e., The LEA is three times or more likely to identify, place into restrictive settings and/or discipline students from a particular racial or ethnic group compared to all the other racial/ethnic groups within the LEA’s special education programs.
- For three consecutive years of data in the same category of analysis.
Technical assistance options will include webinars, in-person and/or phone meetings focused on the following areas:
- Data MDE uses in CEIS calculations.
- CEIS reporting requirements for LEAs in mandatory CEIS vs. voluntary CEIS.
- Data and process for qualifying for Reasonable Progress Exemptions under IDEA.
- Utilizing funds under mandatory CEIS vs voluntary CEIS.
- Scaling up and implementation of evidence-based practices to address over identification, and qualify for Reasonable Progress.
CEIS webinars are tentatively scheduled for the following dates. Registration information will be sent to the Special Education listserv by March 2, 2020.
- CEIS Webinar #1, Wednesday, April 8, 2020, 1-3 p.m.
- CEIS Webinar #2, Wednesday, April 15, 2020, 9-11 a.m.
- CEIS Webinar #3, Tuesday, May 5, 2020, 1-3 p.m.
- CEIS Webinar #4, Tuesday, May 19, 2020, 1-3 p.m.
- CEIS Webinar #5, Tuesday, June 2, 2020, 1-3 p.m.
- CEIS Webinar #6, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, 1-3 p.m.
For more information or technical assistance, contact Alex Migambi (651-582-8736), or Denise Berger (651-582-8260). The best times to call or meet are Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. LEAs can also send questions to the MDE CEIS Technical Assistance email, mde.CEIS@state.mn.us.
Survey on the Preschool Language Scale-5 (PLS-5)
In an effort to secure information on the use and interpretation of the Preschool Language Scale-5 (PLS-5) the Divisions of Special Education and Early Learning Services have developed a short survey on the PLS-5. The information secured from educational stakeholders will assist in developing guidance related to this tool.
Input from coordinators, early childhood staff and speech language pathologists (SLPs) is needed to secure a better understanding of the use and interpretation PLS-5 in Minnesota as well as help determine guidance moving forward. The survey will take less than five minutes to complete and will be open until February 12, 2020. Please encourage your staff to take the PLS-5 survey on the Survey Gizmo site.
For more information, or if assistance is needed with the survey, please contact Mary Hunt.
|
