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Special Education Update
May 2021
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2021 Legislative Session
With the release of the 2021–23 biennial budget, ESSB 5092, the 2021 Legislative Session has come to a close. In this year of upheaval and uncertainty, the legislature made enormous progress for schools. The Legislature added about $4 billion to the biennial budget for K–12. About 75% of this is in federal funds, and 25% (about $1 billion) in state funds. The state-funded portions will be carried forward permanently into the next biennium at about $1.5 billion for districts. For more information about the budget provisos and newly passed bills that impact special education services, please see this 2021 Special Education Leg. Report.
If you have questions about bills or budget provisos or any other legislative wonderings, please email David Green.
Now OPEN: Supplemental Public Comment Period for Special Education Rule Making
The OSPI Special Education division is now currently accepting public comments on supplemental changes to proposed revisions to WAC Chapter 392-172A. OSPI will also hold one public hearing on the supplemental changes on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 1pm. For more information about the proposed supplemental changes, public hearing, and comment period, please review this informational handout.
Reminder: Annual and Three-Year Renewal Applications for Nonpublic Agencies (NPA) due June 1st
All NPAs must complete and submit an annual review form no later than June 1st of the succeeding calendar year following their initial approval. For a three-year renewal, the NPA must reapply to maintain approval status. This process is identical to the initial application and the sponsoring district must schedule an onsite visit and complete all components of the application before the June 1st deadline.
The NPA application, annual review forms, and three-year renewal forms are available on OSPI’s website.
Recovery Services
Recovery Services Guidance and Resources
Recovery services are similar in function to compensatory education (see Appendix for definitions)—both are additional services for students with disabilities designed to address lack of appropriate progress on IEP goals due to missed or limited services or for other reasons as a result of the pandemic. OSPI’s expectation, consistent with the need to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE), is that schools consider the individualized need for recovery services for every student with a disability from PreK through age 21. To support Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams with determining recovery services needed for students with disabilities due to the impact of COVID-19, OSPI developed the following guidance document: Washington’s Roadmap for Special Education Recovery Services: 2021 & Beyond.
Transition Recovery Services
Transition Recovery Services are additional transition services for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). These extra services can address lack of reasonable progress on IEP goals or the transition plan because of missed or limited special education and related services or for other reasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. OSPI Special Education is hosting a webinar for school and district partners and an information session for families on transition recovery services. Both of these sessions will be recorded and posted to our Monthly Webinars page.
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Webinar for School and District Partners on Transition Recovery Services Thurs, May 20, 2021, 12 to 1 pm
This webinar for school and district partners will review guidance for determining, documenting, providing, and funding transition recovery services, including for students with disabilities over age 21.
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Information Session for Families on Transition Recovery Services Wed, May 26, 2021, 6:30 to 7:30 pm
This live information session for families will review guidance on transition recovery services for students of transition age, including options for students over age 21. Details about this information session have been posted to our Transition Services (Ages 16- 21) page for families, including the event flyer. Translations of the event flyer will be posted soon. For specific questions on transition recovery services, families may call 360-725-6075 or email OSPI Special Education.
OSPI Special Education is working internally with the School Apportionment and Financial Services to finalize details on how districts will document and report transition recovery services. We recognize that school leaders, IEP teams, and families need this information as soon as possible. We will keep our OSPI Secondary Transition webpage updated with the latest information on transition recovery services, and the Special Education COVID Q&A document is also currently being updated with transition recovery services (will be item B-3). For more information, please email Alexandra Toney.
Invitation to Serve: Phasing out Severe Discrepancy for Identification of SLD
OSPI Special Education is continuing the multi-year transition and implementation timeline for phasing out severe discrepancy for identification of a Specific Learning Disability (SLD), including the following priorities and opportunities for input:
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Spring 2021: Formation of SLD Implementation and Transition Workgroup
This workgroup will gather input from partners across eastern and western Washington to explore necessary conditions and resources needed for implementation, along with WAC revisions and guidance development. If you are interested in serving on the SLD Implementation and Transition Workgroup, please complete the Invitation to Serve Form. The invitation to serve on the Implementation and Transition Workgroup opens May 15, 2021 and closes June 30, 2021.
An invitation to serve on the SLD Handbook Revisions Workgroup will open June 2021.
OSPI is seeking partners to engage in important work on behalf of students with disabilities in the state of Washington. The State Design Team will include a diverse group of individuals to partner with OSPI around the following topics*:
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Early Childhood (State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicators B-6, B-7, B-12, and B-17)
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Secondary Transition (Indicators B-1, B-2, B-13, and B-14)
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Inclusionary Practices and Student Outcomes (Indicators B-3 and B-5)
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Parent Engagement (including development of a new parent survey) (Indicator B-8)
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Disproportionality and Significant Disproportionality (Indicators B-4, B-9, and B-10)
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Special Education Monitoring and Educational Benefit for students
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Exploring a Statewide IEP System
*For an explanation of each of the 17 State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicators, click here.
The work of the State Design Team will focus on a commitment to centering racial equity and diversity across all special education monitoring activities. The process is expected to begin in Summer 2021 with a full State Design Team meeting via Zoom (60-90 minutes in length), with smaller group virtual meetings on the topics listed above. The work of the smaller groups, including agendas, facilitation, and length/frequency of the virtual meetings, will be co-designed with members of each individual workgroup.
Partners will have opportunity to provide feedback in multiple ways, including attending virtual meetings, phone calls, emails, review of draft documents, local meetings, etc. We welcome additional suggestions for ways to engage partners and the community.
If you have interest in participating on the OSPI Special Education State Design Team, please complete the Invitation to Serve form and share out across your networks. Please email the WISM team for more information and with any questions. We look forward to engaging with partners on this work!
In an effort to inform our restraint and isolation technical assistance, OSPI is asking one person from each district to take this short (1 minute) survey about the crisis training program that is currently being utilized in your district.
SEAC Meeting May 18 & 19
The Washington state Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) will be conducting their final meeting of the 2020–21 school year on May 18-19, 8:30am–1pm. The meeting is open to members of the public who have an interest in Washington special education services.
To participate, you must register in advance for each meeting. Here are the links to registration: May 18 from 8:30am to 1pm and May 19 from 8:30am to 1pm. During registration, you may request an interpreter, please signify the language (ASL, Spanish, etc.). We will try our best to accommodate. Registration will close on Thursday, May 13, three business days prior to the meeting. Public comment will be heard at noon on May 18 and you will be allowed to participate via the Q&A box. If you would rather email your comments, send to OSPI Special Education email address with “SEAC public comment” in the subject line and it will be read during the designated time. If you email your public comment, it must be received no later than Friday, May 14. Any comments received after the deadline will be read at the next scheduled SEAC meeting in August 2021.
SEAC Community Forum – Defining Inclusion
The SEAC Community Forum is scheduled for Tuesday, May 18 beginning at 5:30pm. The public will have the opportunity to meet with SEAC members and have a robust discussion about defining inclusion. You must register in advance to participate in the forum. Here is the link to the registration: May 18 from 5:30-7pm. During the registration, you will be able to request an interpreter, if needed. We will try our best to accommodate. Registration will close at close of business Thursday, May 13, three business days prior to the meeting.
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Maintenance of Effort: Allowable Exceptions and Adjustments
In anticipation of LEAs receiving ARPA funding, special education wants to remind LEAs of Maintenance of Effort allowable adjustments and exceptions. To take advantage of the allowable adjustments for the 2020–21 school year, LEAs must not be designated as significantly disproportionate and do not have any outstanding reports due to OSPI. Email your questions to the Special Education Fiscal team.
Fiscal Monitoring Guide and Risk Assessment
Our Fiscal Monitoring Guide and Risk Assessment are posted to the OSPI website for review and comment. Email your questions or concerns to the Special Education Fiscal team.
Safety Net Reminders
Community Impact and Updates to High Need Individual Applications are due May 14. The conditional award meeting is scheduled for June 16–17. To observe the process, applicants may attend the State Oversight Committee meeting via Zoom June 17.
Questions? Contact the Safety Net team.
Save the Dates: 2021–22 WASA/OSPI Special Education Conference
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New Director Preconference | July 22 & 23, 2021, 8:30 am to 12 pm
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Conference | Monthly through 2021 (Aug 5, Sept 9, Oct 14, Nov 4, Dec 9) 8:30 – 11 am
Links and additional details coming soon!
Upcoming Conferences & Professional Development Opportunities
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Professional Educator Standards Board
Grant Funds Available to Host your own Teaching Equity Event
Updated Code of Conduct for Washington Educators
OSPI Office of System and School Improvement: Gate Equity Webinar Series
News from Graduation
As schools, seniors, families, and communities work together to support seniors continued learning and post-high school preparation during the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is providing ongoing guidance as needed. This bulletin provides guidance on helping seniors prepare to graduate, including further explanation of the 2020–21 Graduation Requirement Emergency Waiver.
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State Needs Projects Available Throughout the Summer
Each month this past year the OSPI Special Education State Needs Projects have been spotlighted for the services they collectively provide across out state. These projects aim to build statewide capacity through: professional development opportunities; technical assistance; and consultation and training for parents, families, and educators. Check out each website below for the latest offerings when planning for next school year.
OSPI Student Engagement and Support
Social Emotional Learning - Open Educational Resources Grant (FP 126 in iGrants). Grant proposals are due May 17, 2021. The grant timeframe is May – August 31, 2021. For more information, please contact Cara Patrick by email or at 360-725-6507.
Funding will allow small teams of educators, counselors, social workers, and/or staff responsible for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) work to integrate SEL competencies and skills with other academic content areas—improving their own district practices and sharing developed materials as open educational resources (OER). Download the SEL-OER Request for Proposals
OSPI Bilingual Education Program
Workshops: Introduction to the WIDA English Language Development Standards. Intended for all K–12 Educators, Administrators, and Educator Preparation Program Faculty. OSPI is hosting a 2-hour, virtual workshop, Introduction to the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework. Participants can earn 2 free clock hours. The workshop will be offered multiple times from May – September 2021 to accommodate schedules.
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All workshop dates, details, and registration are in pdEnroller.
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In preparation for the workshop, download or order a printed copy of the K–12 WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition.
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Some workshops are tailored to address the questions of administrators, beginning and new educators, and educator preparation program faculty. All K–12 educators, administrators, and educator preparation program faculty are welcome to attend any workshop.
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ALL STUDENTS PREPARED FOR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS, CAREERS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.
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