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Subject: State Performance Plan/Explanation of
Missouri's "Determination"
Source: Heidi Atkins Lieberman, Assistant Commissioner
Intended Audience: Directors of Special Education, Special Education
Contacts
Date: June 22, 2007
On June 20, 2007, I sent out a SELS message, informing you that Missouri
received notification of its evaluation results from the U. S.
Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).
As a result of media reports on June 21, 2007, I felt it important to send a
brief explanation as there appears to be confusion by the media about the
implications of the "Determination" label given Missouri.
While we did not receive the highest rating, and instead received the second
highest rating, we were pleased with the results, especially given that the
rating was based on data that is from previous years and given that we have
improved considerably since then.
To summarize what has occurred:
The U. S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs
(OSEP) used four categories for state determination:
* "Meets the Requirements" (9 states/territories received this
determination)
* "Needs Assistance" (41 states/territories, including Missouri, received
this determination)
* "Needs Intervention in Implementing the Requirements of Part B" (10
states/territories received this determination) and
* "Needs Substantial Intervention" (no state/territory in this category).
The determinations are used to evaluate state performance; but for this very
first state determination, quality performance was not reviewed.
Rather, compliance with legal requirements was the focus. OSEP only looked
at four of the twenty indicators of the State Performance Plan
(SPP): #12, #15, #16, and #17.
While we performed well on #12, #16, and #17, meeting all requirements, OSEP
labeled us under category 2 (Needs Assistance) instead of category 1 (Meets
the Requirements) because of our performance on indicator #15, based on
2004-05 data.
The Indicators can be viewed on our website, under the SPP button.
Indicator #15 is for "Noncompliance of school districts corrected within one
year." 2004-05 data showed this occurred 32.3% of the time.
OSEP acknowledged in Missouri's Determination letter that at this time 95%
of that prior noncompliance has been corrected. According to current data,
Missouri school districts are doing a much better job of ensuring correction
of noncompliance and we appreciate all your hard work. This will be
reflected in the next round of OSEP determination letters next year.
We have been given no indication by OSEP that Missouri is in danger of
losing federal funds.
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