OSDE-SES Updates 8/18/2017 Special Education Handbook

OK State Dept of Ed sent this bulletin at 08/18/2017 04:50 PM CDT

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The Oklahoma Special Education Handbook is now available on our technical assistance page along with a supplementary document showing the changes in yellow highlight. Here is a direct link to the download page for both documents.

Special Education Handbook

The Oklahoma Special Education Handbook was revised to provide more clarity and consistency in guidance regarding the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B (IDEA). These changes were made as a result of collaboration between stakeholders and the IDEA B State Advisory Panel. Changes were also made as a result of Handbook Review forms that were submitted throughout the previous school year. In addition to those changes, the changes below represent the majority of the revisions to the handbook:

  1. An additional chapter was added regarding Early Childhood. This is now Chapter 3: Young Children, Ages 3-5.
  2. Evaluations and Eligibility, now Chapter 4, was clarified in depth to bring more clarity to the processes of evaluating and determining eligibility for students with disabilities.
  3. Chapter 10, Improving Results, was removed from the Handbook. The content of the chapter will be found in an updated version of the Special Education Data Manual. 
  4. Chapters 9 and 10 (Charter Schools and Students in Private Schools) were revised and changes were made to the overall layout of the chapters to provide more clarity.
  5. Legal citations for federal regulations and OSEP guidance now appear at the end of each chapter.
  6. The Appendices now include the following topics:
    a. Special Education Certification
    b. Paraprofessional Requirements
    c. OSEP Letters Regarding Policy
    d. Four Day School Weeks
    e. Shortened Day Guidance
    f. Caseload and Class Size Requirements
    g. Related Services Personnel Qualifications

Please note that this revision does not include any policy changes. Our staff hopes that all stakeholders find the new revision helpful in ensuring positive outcomes for students with disabilities.

Thanks


Todd P. Loftin
Executive Director
Special Education Services
Oklahoma State Department of Education
2500 N. Lincoln Blvd., Suite 412
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Office: 405-522-3237
Cell: 405-248-8581