Division of Special Education

Continuous Improvement Planning Process
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Division of Special Education
Spring 2001

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has identified eight “Cluster Areas” as being those components of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that have the greatest potential for impacting the outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.  These Cluster Areas form the basis for the OSEP Continuous Improvement Monitoring Process.  As part of the monitoring process, OSEP requires states to conduct a self-assessment on these cluster areas using committees of stakeholders.  The self-assessment information that is developed through this process is used by OSEP to design their monitoring of the State.

To prepare for this required activity, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) Division of Special Education prepared committee assignments around the cluster area topics and engaged both the State Interagency Coordination Council (SICC) and the State Advisory Panel for Special Education in conversation and commitment to this process.
 

Cluster Areas for Committees 

• General Supervision

• Parent Involvement

• Free Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrictive Environment

• Secondary Transition

• Transition of Young Children from Part C to Part B

• Early Childhood Special Education

Committee Responsibilities  

Each committee will be responsible for responding to the questions that have been outlined for their work.  Committees are encouraged to suggest, obtain, and review other data sources that may be available but not listed.  The data sources that are listed are not all inclusive.  Some data sources may not provide current information; others may fail to contain the information that the committee believes is needed.  It is appropriate for the committee to suggest new or modified data sources as part of their findings. 

Each committee will be responsible for submitting a written report to DESE that will include the following two components: 

1. Committee Findings:  this section must summarize the findings of the committee which “paints a picture” of the current status of the Cluster Area in the State.   The findings must be supported with the identification of the activities and or data used by the committee in making its findings.  The committee will also report on barriers and/or challenges that are identified in their study of the area.
    

2. Analysis of Findings:  this section of the report should identify, as appropriate, positive findings related to the cluster area (what is going well) and provide any specific recommendations for improvement strategies for the cluster area. 

Timelines 

These DESE will have committees appointed by April 1.  Committees will begin their work in May.  The week of May 14th has been suggested for a two-day meeting.  During this time, all cluster area committee members will participate in an Orientation to the Improvement Process, Orientation to Data Analysis, and have an opportunity to meet with their committees to establish future meeting dates and work scope.   Final reports will be due by September 30.