This month the Department funded (1) a national center that will focus on improving the literacy skills of students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability, including dyslexia; and (2)  the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO), which supports States’ and local school districts’ efforts to increase participation and improve results for children with disabilities on State and districtwide assessments.

The literacy center will assist states, local education agencies, schools, and instructional personnel in identifying students  and using evidence-based interventions and assessments to improve students’ literacy skills.  The center will provide information to families and collaborate with parent centers funded by the Department.  This grant aligns with the My Brother's Keeper initiative's literacy goal. These activities attempt to ensure that all children are reading at grade level by age 8 – the age at which reading to learn becomes essential.  

Hello Leaders!

This month I went back to school with OSERS Acting Assistant Secretary Sue Swenson as part of Secretary King's Opportunity Across America Tour. We teamed up with our Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) to visit two schools in Boston, Massachusetts which implement programs for using instructional technology and Universal Design for Learning. We also met with CAST staff, State and local administrators and representatives for Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and advocates in the field for a Listening and Learning Session.  While in the Boston area we visited the Think College campus to learn more about the opportunities they provide for students with intellectual disabilities.

Our early learning stop on the tour brought us to the Easter Seals Child Development Center in Maryland, which provides services to young children, promotes and advocates for inclusive learning environments, and even develops inter-generational programming for individuals with disabilities. 

September also brought us the first ever joint conference hosted by the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) and National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE). The Department led multiple sessions, including remarks and a Question & Answer Session from Secretary John King. The Conference hosted more than 600 attendees from all over the country. 

In October, OSEP looks forward to participating in the 2016 Division for Early Childhood Conference in Louisville, KY.

OSEP is preparing to release its 2016-2017 Differentiated Monitoring and Support (DMS) notices to all Part B and Part C programs.  The DMS notice informs the State about the level and type of engagement OSEP will provide over the coming year in the areas of (1) Results, (2) Compliance, (3) Fiscal, (4) SSIP, and (5) a special focus area for Part B and for Part C.  OSEP anticipates sending the DMS notices to States by the middle of October.  DMS activities will occur throughout the remainder of 2016, and through September 2017.  Contact your State Lead with any questions.

This month the Department published a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), for which comments are due by November 7, 2016. 

• NPRM: Supplement, Not Supplant under Title I
• Fact Sheet for NPRM (September 14, 2016)
• Overview: Powerpoint | Audio 

New guidance was release on Title II and Title III under the new law:

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!

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!

 What's "My Story" today?  ED's Office of Communication and Outreach now features different initiatives and events on our new Snapchat account.  Add us at @usedgov!!

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.