Welcome back to the new Monthly Update!
In this Issue:
- Top News-- Significant Disproportionality NPRM Webinar
- From the Acting Director
- ED and OSEP Announcements
- Resource Center-- Policy Letters and Grant Opportunities
- ESSA Updates
- From the Secretary
- From the Field-- highlighting stories from parents and experts
WEBINAR ON SIGNIFICANT DISPROPORTIONALITY NPRM
OSERS Assistant Secretary Michael Yudin and OSEP Acting Director Ruth Ryder joined forces this month to explain the recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), "Equity in IDEA". The two narrate this presentation in four parts, laying out:
(1) the background of the newly proposed significant disproportionality rule;
(2) how it differs from the current regulation;
(3) what the standard approach will entail; and
(4) instructions for commenting on the NPRM.
A recent report from The Civil Rights Project at UCLA shares findings related to the discipline of students with disabilities at charter schools, further supporting the Department's efforts to address significant disproportionality.
Important NPRM links:
Ruth Ryder, Acting Director
Hello Leaders!
Spring has sprung and the Department is revitalized with the official confirmation of John King as US Secretary of Education! Our congratulations go out to John on this important achievement-- OSEP looks forward to his continued leadership.
The future is certainly bright, and I am excited to announce the Call for Session Proposals for our upcoming Project Director's Conference, which will take place August 1-3, 2016 here in Washington, DC. Session proposals are due on April 29th. For instruction and proposal guidelines, visit our meetings website, where you can also register for the conference and find more information on this exciting opportunity to learn from and exchange ideas with some fantastic representatives from the field!
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On March 14, 2016, John King was confirmed by the Senate as the 10th United States Secretary of Education. The following day, Secretary King was invited to the Oval Office to discuss the future of US education policy with President Barack Obama.
EDFACTS INFORMATION COLLECTION PACKAGE APPROVED
The EDFacts
Information Collection package for SY 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 (1850-0925)
has been approved. This package includes all the Part B Section 618 data
collections.
The package has a new OMB
number (OMB 1850-0925; expiration date February 28, 2019). Attachments are
posted on the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website.
The new EDFacts
Information Collection Package provides the following changes to the IDEA
Section 618 data collections:
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Eliminates
the collection of File C004/DG 491:
Children with disabilities (IDEA) not participating in assessments.
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Eliminates
the collection of previous year’s 619 allocation for each LEA/ESA in the
Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Reduction and Coordinated Early Intervening
Services (CEIS) data collection.
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Adds
four new data elements related to the LEA Maintenance of Effort (MOE)
provisions of IDEA in the MOE Reduction and CEIS Data Collection
and collected through the EDFacts Metadata and Process System (EMAPS)
tool:
(1) Did the State determine whether the LEA/ESA met the MOE compliance standard in (Reference Year)?
(2) Did
the LEA/ESA meet the MOE compliance standard in (Reference Year)?
(3) By the date of this data submission, did the State return non-Federal funds to the Department based on failure of the LEA/ESA to meet the MOE compliance standard in (Reference Year)?
(4) What amount of non-Federal funds did the State return to the Department based on the failure of the LEA/ESA to meet the MOE compliance standard in (Reference Year)?
Please note that we will
begin to collect the new MOE data elements in the FFY 2016/ SY 2016-17 MOE
Reduction and CEIS data submission (due May of 2018).
Contact OSEP's data team with questions.
The Latest in Special Ed Policy Letters
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January 19, 2016 to Diana Savit: Use of recording devices at IEP team meetings; Qualifications of Individuals Conducting Independent Educational Evaluations (IEE)
This letter addresses OSEP's position on the use of audio or video recording devices at IEP team meetings and whether an LEA is permitted to have different qualification criteria for its personnel than it requires of evaluators who conduct an IEE.
The writer asks OSEP for guidance on whether a parent of a child who has been identified as having a disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act may serve on the State advisory panel as a parent representative of the advisory panel required under IDEA.
This letter addresses questions about how the public agency is permitted to proceed if the parent is accompanied to an IEP meeting by an individual/attorney without notifying the public agency of this fact prior to the IEP Team meeting.
OSEP policy letters can be found on the Department’s website.
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities:
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 28, 2016
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 21, 2016
Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilties:
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 18, 2016
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 14, 2016
Training and Information for parents of Children with disabilities:
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 11, 2016
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 The Department continues to work on implementing and adapting to the provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Check out the ESSA Transition FAQs (February 26, 2016).
The process of Negotiated Rulemaking also kicked off last week, March 21-23, 2016. Materials and information regarding this initial session, as well details explaining Negotiated Rulemaking, and what will take place throughout the process, can be found on the Department's website.
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 The department continues to bustle with newly confirmed Secretary John King at the healm. Read about some of the fantastic initiatives we're supporting:
- Last April, the President announced the Open eBooks project, an app which has officially gone "live" following an announcement from First Lady Michelle Obama last month. This effort to connect underserved students with over $250 million of free content aligns with the Department's #GoOpen campaign and is part of the White House #ConnectED initiative, both of which promote using technology to improve educational access and outcomes across the US.
- John King's College Opportunity Across America Tour kicked off on March 16 at Georgia State University. King has resolved in 2016 to promote equity and excellence at every level of education to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed; support and lift up the teaching profession; and continue the Department’s focus on returning America to the top of the rankings in college completion by ensuring more students earn an affordable degree with real value.
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The Department also launched a new Success Mentor initiative, #EveryStudentEveryDay, which addresses chronic absenteeism, as part of My Brother's Keeper efforts.
- After launching the Career Technical Education Makeover Challenge, Secretary King has called for the reauthorization of the Perkins Act, which provides some $1.1 billion for career and technical education (CTE) programs in seventh- through twelfth-grade and postsecondary institutions.
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ENGAGE WITH US
ED on Instagram @usedgov
 The US Department of Education is now on Instagram! Follow us @usedgov, where we're sharing the amazing stories of educators and learners across these United States!
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Follow us on Twitter @Ed_Sped_Rehab
 OSERS is on Twitter with the latest from special education advocates, educators, families and students. Follow us @Ed_Sped_Rehab and tell your friends. We'll see you in the Twittersphere!
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Send Us Your Feedback and Comments
 We want to hear from you! Do you have suggestions for TA opportunities? Parent resources? Webinar topics? Ideas for things to include in future newsletters? Send them to Charlotte Stein at charlotte.stein@ed.gov.
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