State Plan for Special Education

Back to Compliance

Part B: Ages 3 to 21 Missouri State Plan Effective September 30, 2025
Description of State Plan Changes

The Office of Special Education, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is proposing changes to the state plan/regulations implementing Part B of IDEA. The proposed changes are available for inspection until April 4, 2026, in the Office of Special Education at 205 Jefferson Street, 11th floor Jefferson Building, Jefferson City, Missouri during regular office hours and are also available on the State Plan for Special Education webpage, click on Description of State Plan Changes.

Written public comments on the proposed changes are being solicited beginning February 4, 2026, and should be directed as follows no later than the close of business on March 6, 2026, to:

Special Education Compliance
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
P. O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480
Fax: 573-751-3910
Email: Idea.Comments@dese.mo.gov

Public hearings will be held by webinar:

February 11, 2026

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 160 729 6293

February 25, 2026

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 160 837 1817

During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to hear about the proposed changes to the Part B regulations. Individuals who require special accommodations to participate in the public hearing must contact the Office of Special Education at least 72 hours prior to the webinar at 573-751-5739.  

These proposed changes to the state plan are new and different from those proposed in September 2025. A SELS message will be sent once the September 2025 proposed changes become effective.

 

Order of Rulemaking to Amend the Part B State Plan - Changes Proposed in September 2025

The Office of Special Education, DESE proposed changes to the state plan/regulations implementing Part B of IDEA in September 2025 (see below). Written public comments on the proposed changes were solicited from September 18, 2025, to close of business on October 17, 2025. Public hearings were via webinar on October 3 and October 14, 2025. A SELS message will be sent when the changes become effective. 

Part C: Ages Birth to 3 Missouri State Plan

Part C- Current Plan, 2014

Speech-Language Criteria Changes Made 7/30/19

​Q & A Speech/Language Criteria Changes

Revised Speech-Language Eligibility Criteria