Listserv News and Updates


What is ListServ (SELs/SELs2)?

February 2000, the Office of Special Education created the Special Education Listserv (SELS).  It has been and continues to be a limited e-mail group (with listserv being a misnomer since it really isn’t a listserv) available to only one contact person per school district/responsible public agency. It is used by the Office to disseminate important special education information concerning funding, compliance, data collection, professional development, etc. 

The Office has created a second e-mail group called SELs2.  This e-mail group is open to anyone wanting to subscribe (principals, teachers, parents, etc.). It will allow subscribers to receive the EXACT same messages as subscribers to SELs. By creating this second e-mail group, all constituents interested in special education will have the opportunity to receive the Office’s e-mail messages, not just one contact per school district/responsible public agency. It also allows DESE to maintain the ability to make sure that every district has at least one contact person per district receiving these messages. Messages are from DESE only and may only be posted by the manager (Lina Browner, Office of Special Education). Members may not post messages to either SELs or SELs2.

How Do I Subscribe?

Those interested in subscribing to SELs2 can do so by going to the following the links below. 

Questions or Problems Subscribing to SELs and/or needing to change SELs information, contact Lina Browner, Executive Assistant, Office of Special Education at (573) 751-5739 or via email at Lina.Browner@dese.mo.gov

SELs

SELs2


SELs Archives

 


Power Up 2024 Assistive Technology Conference & Expo 

Source: David Baker, Director, Missouri Assistive Technology

Intended Audience: Special Education Teachers, Para Educators, VI Instructors, Speech and Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Process Coordinators, and General Educators.

Date: March 28, 2024

A reminder that registration closes tomorrow, March 29, for the Power Up 2024 Assistive Technology Conference & Expo on April 8-9, 2024, in Columbia, Missouri.

Through sessions, exhibits, and demonstrations, the Power Up Conference showcases assistive technology for all ages and all disabilities with a heavy emphasis on assistive technology for use in educational settings.

With over 45 sessions and more than 50 exhibitors, this year’s conference provides unequaled access to assistive technology learning and networking opportunities. Of particular relevance to educators are conference sessions on augmentative communication, accessible educational materials (AEM), universal design for learning (UDL), AT assessment, vision, hearing, and AT for neurodiversity.

Sam Seavey will provide this year’s conference endnote. Sam is the founder and creator of The Blind Life YouTube Channel, currently the largest resource for assistive technology on the internet. He has been featured in USA Today, WIRED magazine, and collaborates on accessibility issues with tech giants like Google, SONY, and Amazon. Sam draws on a deep well of personal and professional expertise to educate with enthusiasm and to help everyone lead their best life.

Click here to see the conference agenda; learn about sessions, speakers, and exhibitors; and register. Registration is $290. One-day conference registration is also available.


Creating Intensive ABA Based Verbal Behavior Programs using VB-MAPP

Source: Kristin Funk, Assistant Director, Effective Practices

Intended Audience: Special Education Teachers, Speech Implementers, and Speech-Language Pathologists

Date: March 25, 2024

Project ACCESS will offer a second verbal behavior training for anyone working with students with autism or other developmental disabilities or delayed language development on May 14-16, 2024, in Springfield, MO. This intensive three-day training provides participants the opportunity to learn skills necessary to design and implement evidence-based programs for students with autism and other developmental disorders which are grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and emphasize the acquisition of verbal behavior (language) repertoires. Concepts covered will include basic principles of ABA, errorless teaching and error correction procedures, the verbal operants, data collection, and programming based on the VB-MAPP.

The reduced cost of $100 covers materials, parking, refreshments, and breakfast for all three days. Travel expenses will be the responsibility of the participant. Project ACCESS will provide parking information and other details upon registration. This training is only offered in-person. 

Date, Time, and Location: May 14-16, 2024, from 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in Springfield, MO

Cost: $100 per participant

For more information or to register, go to: Creating Intensive ABA Based Verbal Behavior Programs using VB-MAPP.

Please direct questions or comments to Project ACCESS at projectaccess@missouristate.edu or call 866-481-3841 or 417-836-6657.


Part B Application

Source: Gwen Deimeke, IDEA Coordinator, Office of Special Education

Intended Audience: System Stakeholders in Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Date: March 22, 2024

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

All states making application for funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are required to make available for public review and comment the application packet for those federal funds. These are the funds that support provision of special education services to children ages 3 to 21 in Missouri. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has developed the draft application packet for IDEA Part B funds and by this notice is making the application available for review and comment at https://dese.mo.gov/special-education/compliance/part-b-annual-state-application.

The application packet, developed by the U. S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), includes a summary of the assurances, certifications, and IDEA use of funds descriptions that the state will use to implement Part B of IDEA. Upon OSEP's approval of Missouri's Part B application, the state will receive a federal grant award under Part B of IDEA for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.

As you review the application, please note the following:

  • The application is in a format required by OSEP.

  • Missouri is providing general assurances to OSEP that the state will be implementing the provisions of state and federal regulations for Part B of IDEA 2004.

  • The dollar amounts listed in Section III, Use of Funds, are for State-level Administration and Targeted Initiatives; not the cost of serving students with disabilities or the total cost of special education services in Missouri.

  • OSEP has not yet published the FFY 2024 IDEA allocations to states or provided states with their interactive spreadsheets to include with the Annual Application for Part B Funds. OSEP has advised states to insert the interactive spreadsheet from the previous year's application (in this case FFY 2023) for purposes of starting public comment. When the FFY 2024 spreadsheet becomes available, Missouri will add it to the posted application and remove the FFY 2023 spreadsheet named Grant Expenditures FFY 2023.

 

The application is available for review on our website from March 22, 2024, through May 21, 2024. Written public comments on the draft Part B application packet may be submitted from April 1, 2024, until the close of business on April 30, 2024, to the attention of Gwen Deimeke, IDEA Coordinator, at IDEA.comments@dese.mo.gov or P. O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480 or by fax 573-751-3910.

 


Verification of Data to be Used in FY 25 IDEA Part B (Section 611 and Section 619) Allocation Calculations

Source: Special Education Finance

Intended Audience: Superintendents, Special Education Directors, Finance Administrators

Date: March 20, 2024

ACTION REQUIRED: YES

DEADLINE: April 8, 2024

Local Education Agencies (LEAs) have an opportunity to verify that correct data have been reported for use in determining FY 25 IDEA Part B (Section 611 and Section 619) allocations. Preliminary data as of March 7, 2024, to be used in FY 25 IDEA Part B (Section 611 and Section 619) allocations for LEAs can be reviewed at https://dese.mo.gov/financial-admin-services/special-education-finance/part-b-funding-and-allocations. Any corrections to PK-12 September Enrollment, Parentally Placed Private School Student, Non-Resident, Home School, and Federal Programs Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) data must be made in the system in which they were reported no later than midnight April 8, 2024. FRL data includes FRL students in grades K-12 found in the MOSIS October Student Core file. Any data changes made after April 8, 2024, will not be included in the FY 25 IDEA Part B (Section 611 and Section 619) allocation calculations. LEAs are responsible for verifying that any updates/changes are saved. Errors on reporting this data could result in a decrease in the LEA's FY 25 IDEA Part B (Section 611 and Section 619) allocations.

The CEP Identified Student percentage, Non-Public, and Neglected/Delinquent counts on the data spreadsheet are unable to be changed in the MOSIS system. Please contact the Special Education Finance Section with questions at 573-526-5283 or spedfunding@dese.mo.gov.


FY 24 IDEA Proportionate Share Carryover Release Requests

Source: Special Education Finance

Intended Audience: Special Education Directors, Financial Administrators

Date: March 18, 2024

Prior year IDEA proportionate share carryover may now be released by request in ePeGS if the district does not have applicable proportionate share expenditures equal to or greater than the carryover amount of proportionate share funds. The FY 24 Proportionate Share Carryover Release Request is due April 30, 2024. Proportionate Share Carryover Release Requests after this date will require prior approval from the Special Education Finance section.

When considering releasing proportionate share carryover funds, districts may use the Proportionate Share Release and Carryover Calculator found at https://dese.mo.gov/financial-admin-services/special-education-finance/part-b-proportionate-share to determine 1) if proportionate share carryover funds may be released and 2) the amount of IDEA Part B 611 funds that must be retained to carry over into the next fiscal year.

If a Proportionate Share Carryover Release Request is submitted by the district and approved by Special Education Finance, a 2023-24 Special Education Part B Budget Revision must be created and submitted to budget the released carryover funds under a function code other than 1224 and/or 2557 SPED. The current year proportionate share amount must remain budgeted under function code 1224 and/or 2557 SPED.

Questions may be directed by email to spedfunding@dese.mo.gov.