Connecting and Learning

There are many great opportunities to learn with colleagues this month including:

• WCASS Fall Conference September 28-30 in Appleton registration opens soon!

• New Leaders Virtual Academy co-sponsored with WDPI August 17 registration is open. Click here for more information about the series.

• CASE National Conference November 9-11 in Salt Lake City registration is open

• Perry Zirkel’s Special Education Legal Alert

This month’s update identifies two recent court decisions addressing various FAPE issues, including the foundational role of evaluations and, in the second case, the overlay of Section 504. For related publications and earlier monthly updates, see perryzirkel.com.

Compliance

The following tasks need attention this month:

• WISEdata - Ensure special education data in Student Information System (SIS) is accurate/ Ongoing Data Submission through Ed-FI (FAQ doc - all spec ed data)

• Fiscal - IDEA Flow-through and Preschool initial budget submissions due (WISEgrants)

• Fiscal - PI-1505 SE Annual report submitted through School Financial Services (SFS) reporting portal

• Fiscal - School Financial Services (SFS) PI-5000 Transfer of Service software opens

• DLM - required test administration training becomes available

• RDA: Procedural Compliance Self-Assessment - Conduct self-assessment for districts in cycle (Timeline doc)

• RDA: Procedural Compliance Self-Assessment - Verification of current compliance for districts in previous cycle

• Indicator 7 Child Outcomes - Enter entry & exit outcomes/review submission report

• Indicator 8 Family Engagement Survey - Review Indicator 8 and Family Engagement Survey resources and guide for districts in cycle

• Indicator 12 Program Participation System (PPS) - Birth to 3 program notifications and referrals/ ongoing data entry

• Indicator 13 Postsecondary Transition Plan (PTP) - Review submission reports

• RDA:PCSA - Application Opens for districts in cycle

• Indicator 11 Timely Evaluations - Data collection begins for districts in cycle

• Indicator 14 Post-School Outcomes - Survey (site) open for districts in cycle & districts electing to participate

Policy, Guidance & Legislation

From CASE:

New Guidance Helps Schools Support Students with Disabilities and Avoid Discriminatory Use of Discipline

The U.S. Department of Education announced the release of new guidance from its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) to help public elementary and secondary schools fulfill their responsibilities to meet the needs of students with disabilities and avoid the discriminatory use of student discipline.

These newly released resources are the most comprehensive guidance on the civil rights of students with disabilities concerning student discipline and build on the Department’s continued efforts to support students and schools through pandemic recovery.

The guidance makes clear that schools do not need to choose between complying with Section 504 and IDEA and keeping their school community—including students and staff—safe.

All these documents can be found on the Department's School Climate and Student Discipline Resources

• Letter from Secretary Cardona to Our Nation's Educators, School Leaders, Parents, and Students About the Importance of Supporting the Needs of Students with Disabilities.

• OSEP Dear Colleague Letter on Implementation of IDEA Discipline Provisions.

• Questions and Answers Addressing the Needs of Children with Disabilities and IDEA’s Discipline Provisions.

• Positive, Proactive Approaches to Supporting the Needs of Children with Disabilities: A Guide for Stakeholders.

• Supporting Students with Disabilities and Avoiding the Discriminatory Use of Student Discipline under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504)

• Accompanying Fact Sheet.