Special Education Listserv

Subject: Fiscal Monitoring/Early Intervening Services

Source: Heidi Atkins Lieberman, Assistant Commissioner

Intended Audience: Superintendents, Special Education Directors, Data Managers

Date: March 19, 2008

The U. S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) requires the monitoring of IDEA funds used by school districts for purposes of Early Intervening Services (EIS).  This monitoring is a condition of Missouri's receipt of the IDEA Part B grant.

As a result, we have developed a monitoring procedure that we hope will not be intrusive to school districts, but that will enable us to ensure the monies are properly used.

Nine districts have been randomly selected for monitoring of the early intervention services program.  Districts will be notified shortly if they were selected and given direction on what documentation needs to be submitted and by when it needs to be submitted.  In the future, the selection will occur in September of each year and school districts will need to submit information to DESE no later than March 31 of the following year.  The monitoring will be a desk review of the following items:

* The professional development provided to teachers and other school staff that enable such personnel to deliver scientifically-based academic and behavioral interventions, including scientifically-based literacy instruction, and, where appropriate, instruction on the use of adaptive and instructional software.  Specifically, a list of the professional development provided, the cost for each professional development meeting/training, and the sign-in sheet for those that attended each meeting/training.

* A list of what educational and behavioral evaluations, services, and supports, including scientifically based literacy instruction are being provided.

* The year-end report showing the number of children served who received early intervening services, and the number of children served who received early intervening services and subsequently receive special education and related services under Part B using data from the preceding two year period. 

As a reminder - A responsible public agency may not use more than fifteen (15) percent of the amount the agency receives under Part B for any fiscal year in combination with other funds to develop and implement coordinated, early intervening services for students in kindergarten through grade 12 (with a particular emphasis on students in kindergarten through grade 3) who have not been identified as needing special education or related services but who need additional academic and behavioral support to succeed in a general education environment.