State Performance Plan 2005-2012 - Part B - Arkansas Department Of Education (Page 234 of 277) in pdf

State Performance Plan 2005-2012 - Part B - Arkansas Department Of Education Page 234

Arkansas Department of Education Special Education Unit

Part B State Performance Plan

Working in conjunction with the G/DM Section, the IDEA Data & Research Office ensures standardized

data collection procedures for federal reporting, state and district level data analysis, and public

dissemination of program effectiveness data including school district and early childhood program profiles,

Monitoring Profiles, Significant Disproportionality-Coordinated Early Intervening Services Profiles, the

State Performance Plan, and the Annual Performance Report.

The Arkansas IDEA Data & Research Office coordinates with multiple ADE Divisions on various projects

by providing leadership and guidance in the areas of data collection and survey design as well as data

related LEA personnel training. The Office is actively involved in the general supervision of LEAs through

the identification and correction of noncompliance related to the statewide student management system

(SMS). The referral tracking sub-module in the special education module of the SMS is the one area where

noncompliance can be identified. The process for identification of noncompliance is outlined below.

Identification of Noncompliance

•

Prior to calculation of Indicators 11 and 12 for the APR in October/November, referral records that

exceeded the 60 day evaluation timeline for which the LEA entered a code of “other” are closely

examined to determine if they meet exclusionary criteria. If further clarification is necessary, LEA

supervisors are contacted via phone or email. For compliance with State regulations this process also

is applied to the 30 day eligibility determination timeline.

•

Further, failure of an LEA to submit referral data without prior notification that it had zero referrals

for the year results in an automatic 0% LEA rate for the related indicator(s). Any missing data which

prohibits the calculation of a record (i.e. missing date) is considered a missed timeline since

verification of timeliness cannot be made. This results in the elevation of the record to being

“flagged” for noncompliance.

Verification of Services and Correction

•

The referral tracking data captures eligibility determination date, status as to placement in special

education (y/n) and date of parental consent for placement, thus allowing verification of the entire

process. If these data elements are missing, the IDEA Data & Research Office staff reviews the

APSCN special education modules and/or the MySped Resource DDS Application to verify that

students who had their evaluation timelines exceed 60 day were evaluated, had eligibility

determined, and had an IEP developed when found to be eligible.

How the Components Function as a General Supervision System

ADE-SEU general supervision instruments and procedures identify and correct IDEA noncompliance in a

timely manner. The system of identifying and correcting noncompliance includes processes and procedures

implemented by the ADE-SEU Dispute Resolution Section in the coordination of due process hearings and

complaint investigations, and the use of pre-filing mediation services. While hearing officers conduct due

process hearings, ADE-SEU Area Supervisors in the Monitoring/Program Effectiveness (M/PE) and the

Non-Traditional Programs (NTP) Sections typically investigate complaints. The IDEA requires due process

hearings to be completed within 45 days of filing, while complaints must be addressed within 60 days of

filing.

The ADE-SEU uses a three-year rotational monitoring system. One-third of LEA special education

programs, as well as state-operated and state-supported programs providing special education and related

services to students with disabilities, are monitored each year. Using a process of random selection, the

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State Performance Plan 2005-2012 - Part B - Arkansas Department Of Education Page 234

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