O S E P Office of Special Education Programs United States Department of Education Aligning the State Performance Plan, Improvement Strategies, and Professional Development OSEP 2006 Project Director’s Conference

O S E P Accountability in IDEA 2004 Accountability to the Secretary Accountability to the Public Accountability for Funds Accountability for Results!

O S E P The Focus “The primary focus of Federal and State monitoring activities shall be on improving education results and functional outcomes for all children with disabilities…”

O S E P Blueprint for Improvement  The State Performance Plan (SPP) is the State’s “blueprint” for improvement around priority areas and critical indicators  The Annual Performance Report (APR) promotes accountability by requiring the State to report annually on their performance  States are encouraged to coordinate their technical assistance and professional development resources to support improvement on the critical indicators

O S E P Statutory Requirements: SPP  SPPs in place 1 year after enactment (12/2/05)  Evaluate the States’ efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of this part  Include measurable and rigorous targets for the indicators established under the priority areas

O S E P Statutory Requirements: SPP  Describe how the State will improve implementation  Submitted for approval by the Secretary  Must be reviewed at least once every 6 years and submit any amendments to the Secretary

O S E P Statutory Requirements: APR  State shall collect valid and reliable information as needed to report annually  State shall report annually to the Secretary on the performance of the State on the SPP

O S E P Statutory Requirements  State shall use the targets in the SPP to analyze the performance of each LEA/EIS Program in the State  State shall report annually to the public on the performance of each LEA/EIS Program in the State on the targets in the SPP

O S E P Report Language  State Performance Plans, indicators and targets will be developed with broad stakeholder input and public dissemination

O S E P SPP Content In SPP, States will provide:  Overview of the System or Process  Baseline Data  Discussion of Baseline Data  Measurable and Rigorous Targets and  Improvement Activities/Timelines/Resources

O S E P APR Content In APR, States will provide  Actual performance against the targets  Discussion of improvement activities completed and explanation of progress or slippage  Any revisions to approved targets, improvement activities, timelines or resources – with justifications.

O S E P Monitoring Priority Areas: Part B 20 USC 1416(a)(3)  FAPE in the LRE  Effective General Supervision  Disproportionality

O S E P Reporting  State performance plan must be made available through public means  Statute requires States to report on each indicator for each LEA/EIS Program each year  So that’s every indicator, every LEA/EIS Program, every year

O S E P Challenges for States  Collecting accurate data  Setting measurable and rigorous targets  Identifying and implementing improvement strategies  Reporting annually on the progress of EACH LEA/local provider  Specific indicators, e.g., EC and post secondary outcomes, parent/family involvement

O S E P Benefits for the States  SPP can be used to coordinate efforts at the State level  Since SPP is a Federal requirement, can be used as leverage to garner resources  Public reporting puts the “sunshine” on the performance of all LEAs/EIS programs and can encourage low performers to access needed technical assistance and support

O S E P One State’s Story Let’s hear how one State is making it work! Montana