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Special Education Update
November 2021
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Annual Special Education Determination Levels
Annual special education Determination Levels for 2020–21 were officially issued via email to the Superintendent and Special Education Director of each school district, charter school, state school, and Educational Service Agency (ESA) on November 1, 2021. This email serves as the official notification to the LEA of its annual special education Determination Level for the 2020–21 school year.
LEAs have until November 30, 2021 to request reconsideration and submit additional data or other documentation to support the request. If you have any questions about the notification or your district’s level, please contact the WISM team.
IDEA Compliance Package (iGrants Form Package 442/642) – Updated
The 2021–22 IDEA Compliance Package (iGrants Form Package 442/642) is now available. Noncompliance identified through monitoring activities, safety net, district data submissions, due process decisions, and indicator performance during 2020–21 is identified in this form package and is required to be corrected by the local education agency (LEA)/ESA as soon as possible, but no later than April 1, 2022 (see WAC 392-172A-07010(3)). If you have any questions about the Form Package 442/642, please contact the WISM team.
Specific Learning Disability (SLD): Use of Revised Psychometric Assessments with the Discrepancy Table
The list of tests provided in the SLD Handbook is not an exhaustive list of instruments that may be used to determine SLD eligibility. In addition, revised tests may be published before OSPI revises this document. In this case, the practitioner should review the assessment’s technical manual and test reviews to ensure that it is valid and reliable for the purposes of determining SLD eligibility as specified in WAC 392-172A-03055. When feasible, it is recommended that practitioners use the most current version of tests and norms to determine eligibility.
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Invitation to Serve: 2021–22 Special Education State Design Team (SDT) – Updated
OSPI continues to recruit student, family, community, and education partners to join the Special Education State Design Team! Watch and listen for English and Spanish advertisements in local newspapers and radio stations. To learn more and to get involved, please complete the Invitation to Serve: 2021–22 Special Education State Design Team or contact the special education Program Improvement Team.
Special Education Data and Fiscal Scheduled Office Hours via Zoom
To allow districts regular scheduled access to chat about current issues and ask questions, the Special Education Operations Team has scheduled office hours via zoom from 1–1:30 pm on Wednesdays.
Participants are encouraged to send questions or topics they wish to have addressed during the office hour in advance, although that is not required. Participants are welcome to ask questions or raise topics during the meeting. Questions or topics can be submitted to the special education data team.
To access a meeting please use the link – Sandy Grummick’s Zoom Meeting Room.
Federal Special Education Data Reporting Deadlines
There are three data reports due in December. For more information about these data reports and when they are due, check out this Federal Special Education Data Reporting Deadlines handout.
Questions? Contact the Special Education Data Team.
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IDEA MOE Reduction Fiscal Year (FY) 21
ARP funds are considered supplemental funds to your IDEA grants. Therefore, LEAs may request a 50% MOE reduction (34 CFR 300.205) for Section 611 funds. The MOE reduction will free up state and local funds used for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) activities. LEAs must request approval from OSPI to take the 50% reduction. The MOE 50% Adjustment Request form is located on the Special Education fiscal webpage.
This is a VOLUNTARY process for LEAs that have an increase in IDEA Section 611 allocations AND meet all MOE reduction criteria. See Special Education Funding In Washington State website for application details.
LEAs that elect to use the 50% adjustment must email a completed application by November 30, 2021 to the Special Education Fiscal Team.
Fiscal Risk Assessments
The fiscal risk assessments are currently being updated for two (2) of the risk categories. Your revised risk assessments will be uploaded into iGrants during this month.
If you have any questions and/or concerns, please contact the Special Education Fiscal Team.
Reminder!
Form package 149 ARP IDEA B funds are considered supplemental to IDEA B and follow the same rules and regulations. These funds must be tracked separately and have their own unique Program Account number 23 and Revenue Account number 6123. The separate account codes allow LEAs to track ARP IDEA B expenditures. This will be important during fiscal audits and fiscal monitoring.
IPP Website Redesign
Please visit the newly updated Inclusionary Practices webpage for information on professional development offerings, Myths & Facts series, Inclusionary Practices Handbook, and more.
Grant Funding to Support Paraeducator Training
Starting in December, LEAs may seek grant funding from OSPI to support paraeducators, who have completed the first half of the Fundamental Course of Study (FCS), in completing the second half of the training. Specifics will be in the December Special Education Update.
Questions about the upcoming grant contact David Green.
Questions about FCS contact Zoe Hammes-Hefti at PESB.
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Inclusive Transitional Kindergarten Grant Opportunity
OSPI is pleased to announce the Inclusive Transitional Kindergarten Exploration, Planning and Installation Grant, a competitive grant, open to all school districts with demonstrated need for Transitional Kindergarten.
- This grant opportunity is intended to increase access to Transitional Kindergarten for students with disabilities, providing $40,000, for schools to equip classrooms and educators with the tools and resources needed to establish inclusive TK programs.
- Successful grantees will participate in exploration, planning and installation of inclusionary practices with the Preschool Inclusion Champions (PIC) and the Washington Pyramid Model as a framework for Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), with support from ESD Implementation Specialists.
- Districts will have until 4 pm November 15, 2021 to complete the grant application. This includes completing a survey of application questions and uploading letters of recommendation from three early learning community-based early learning programs.
- More information about Inclusive Transitional Kindergarten Exploration, Planning and Installation Grants can be found in iGrants Form Package 181 or by contacting your ESD Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist and/or WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator.
For more information about this grant opportunity, please contact Julie Dean, or Gretchen Stahr-Breunig.
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Special Education Responsibilities for Students Attending Open Doors/Reengagement Programs - Updated
Starting January 2021, the Open Doors state application process will require applicant districts to describe how the special education process, including the provision of services, will be implemented for eligible students in the program.
Read the full tip here.
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OSPI Office of System and School Improvement
LifeLines: A Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention for Schools
Wednesday, November 10, 2021 | 10:00-11:30am
We know that staff and students need extra care this year. We’re bringing you Maureen Underwood, author of the LifeLines curriculum to talk about a trauma informed systems approach to Social Emotional Learning, with suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. Ruth Middlebrook will be joining us to talk about Olympia School District’s progress toward implementation and their lessons learned as they’ve shared strategies with staff, students, parents, and community members. You’ll also get a look at a Readiness Assessment to help evaluate your school’s supports and set goals to support a healthy school. Free Clock Hours are available for participating.
Washington Music Therapy Advocacy
Did you know that Music Therapy is considered a Related Service and can be one of many related services supports to meet the needs of students? As with other related services music therapy is recommended as a related service only when the IEP team determines it is necessary for a student to benefit from their special education services.
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 Upcoming Events
Safety Net Training Opportunities
Financial Education Public-Private Partnership (FEPPP) Workshops
November 17, 2021 from 4 to 5:30 pm
This training is intended for middle and high school educators as well as special education and Career Counseling staff and will cover how job hunting, resumes, and winning in an interview in today’s competitive job market are constantly changing. Help your students take their resumes and job-hunting skills to the next level. Thinking outside of the box will help ensure students are prepared for the ever-changing workforce. The class will include tips and tricks from a staff recruitment professional, as well current industry employment trends.
November 29, 2021 from 4 to 5:30 pm
This training is excellent for educators, students, parents, and community members. Participants in this training will learn:
- To identity different types of consumer loans
- Understand how consumer loans work
- Understand the importance of loan protection benefits
- Identity basic requirements and helpful tips before a vehicle purchase
Clock hours available for both workshops!
Questions? Contact Tracy Godat the FEPPP Executive Director.
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Special Education Personal Qualifications Guidance and Endorsement Options
There are now five special education endorsements options for staffing:
- Special Education
- Early Childhood Special Education
- Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI)
- Deaf Education
- Deaf Education with American Sign Language (ASL) Proficiency
To assist districts in understanding the staffing options available to them under WAC 392-172A-02090 Personnel Qualifications with regard to each of the special education endorsement options, the OSPI Special Education division has published the following resources on the Special Education Personnel Qualifications Guidance page.
Additionally, the pre-endorsement waiver application has been updated to reflect the new special education endorsement options and the application will need to indicate which special education endorsement options the candidate is seeking the waiver for. Starting October 1, 2021, the Pre-Endorsement Waiver application and approval letter will be special education endorsement specific.
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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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