From the Director
IDOE Office of Special Education | September 2021
From the Director's Desk
Welcome back to the 2021-2022 school year!
These past months have been a challenging time for everyone. I appreciate the dedication and perseverance exhibited by so many people. As we move forward into the school year, I have no doubt that these challenges will continue to be met head on with integrity, dedication, and grace. Wishing everyone the best for this school year.
-Dr. Nancy Holsapple
Updates from the Dispute Resolution Team
Notice Regarding Statewide Assessments
Notice must be provided to parents of students with disabilities in grades three through five regarding accommodations and statewide assessments. Pursuant to Indiana Code 20-32-5.1-18.8, no later than February 1, 2022, schools must provide a copy of the notice to parents at the annual case review or by certified mail or personal delivery if a parent does not attend the annual review. Contact the Office of Special Education with questions.
Maintaining Proper Documentation
As the school year begins, please ensure you are implementing students’ IEPs as written. Documentation of accurate implementation can help parents or students of legal age rest assured that services are being provided as agreed upon during the case conference committee (CCC) meeting. In addition, this documentation will be key should an investigation alleging failure to implement the IEP be filed. If the IEP is unclear, please reconvene the CCC to develop an IEP that clearly outlines the student’s needs, goals, and services.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and 511 IAC 7-32 through 49, commonly referred to as “Article 7,” both address the importance of meaningful parental input in the IEP decision-making process. Be sure to document your communications to help demonstrate that parental input was sought when necessary.
Dispute resolution options, informal and formal, can be found on the Dispute Resolution webpage. Feel free to contact our team via the iChamp Help Desk should you have questions.
Governor's Council for People with Disabilities
The Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities is hiring a Communications Program Manager. Qualified applicants include those interested in working with immigrant populations and people for whom Spanish is their first language. Candidates who have fluency in Spanish are preferred. Click here to apply.
TIES Center Announces Indiana Partnership
The TIES Center announced a new partnership with IDOE and two Indiana school corporations, School Town of Munster and Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. The project involves building inclusive education systems for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The project is being piloted in Indiana, Maryland, and Washington and will help to develop resources for release in 2022.
Educators Needed for Assessment Committees
The Office of Student Assessment invites all Indiana licensed educators interested in assisting with the development of Indiana assessments to complete this online form. Most committee meetings occur virtually in the evenings, making both stipends and professional growth points (PGPs) available to participating educators. Please contact the Office of Student Assessment with questions.
Updates from the Monitoring Team
Results Driven Accountability and Differentiated Support (RDA) System Data Retreats
Please save the dates for the upcoming RDA Data Retreats. OSE anticipates the RDA matrix and planning tools will be sent out the first week of November. The data retreats are optional, but highly encouraged, and are being offered both in-person and virtually. Registration is forthcoming and may be limited based on the capacity of the venue. General and special education collaborative teams are recommended to attend.
- Monday, November 29: North Region - Plymouth High School, Plymouth
- Tuesday, November 30: Central Region - MSD Washington Township Administration Building, Indianapolis
- Wednesday, December 1: Virtual
- Thursday, December 2: South Region - Mark Fetter Center, Jeffersonville
- Friday, December 3: Virtual
All sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET with a one-hour lunch break. Please contact Kristan Sievers-Coffer with questions.
Join the Indiana Cadres of Transition Educators
Educators who work with transition IEPs are encouraged to join the Indiana Cadres of Transition Educators. Cadres build capacity across the state and address a variety of secondary transition needs. Members meet regularly (typically once a month or every other month) to discuss, plan, learn, and provide support to their schools, students, and families.
Every Cadre has one to two facilitators and a support person from the Indiana Secondary Transition Resource Center team. Cadres are supported by IDOE.
You can find a map of Cadre boundaries and a list of participating districts here.
Indiana Early Learning Foundations Public Comment
The Indiana Early Learning Foundations create common language and expectations for the early childhood field and outline the developmental progression that typically-developing young children may experience as they grow toward Kindergarten readiness. In 2020, IDOE embarked on a review of the 2015 Early Learning Foundations with early learning stakeholders and is now seeking public comment on the proposed changes. Stakeholders may view the proposed Foundations and submit comments here. Public comment is open through Friday, September 17.
Required Moodle Training on Indiana IEP Accommodations
A new 2021 Indiana IEP Accommodations Course, outlining the Indiana IEP (IIEP) Accommodations page, is now available in Moodle. This course is required for all current IIEP users, including those who completed the course last year, as content has changed. The course must be completed by Thursday, September 30. New hires must complete the course within 30 days of their hire date. Please contact Colleen Pawlicki with questions.
Updates from the Fiscal Team
Upcoming Deadlines
- Wednesday, September 15: Last day to submit any modification requests for FY 2019 and FY 2020 grants. Email completed and signed PDF and Excel modification requests to partbgrants@doe.in.gov with the grant year in the subject line.
- Thursday, September 30: Last day local educational agencies (LEAs) can encumber funds from the FY 2019 and FY 2020 grants.
- Wednesday, December 15: Last day to submit a reimbursement request for FY 2019 and FY 2020 funds. The finance office is unable to access the FY 2019 and FY 2020 funds after this date, so any reimbursement requests submitted after this date will be denied. Reimbursement requests should be submitted to specialedpartb@doe.in.gov.
- Wednesday, December 15: All FY 2019 final reports are due. Final reports should be submitted as soon as any grant is fully expended. Email the signed PDF, Excel final reports, and a copy of the final reimbursement request to partbgrants@doe.in.gov. Final reimbursement requests will still need to be submitted to specialedpartb@doe.in.gov for payment.
Part B Updates
- Once available, the FY 2020 Maintenance of Effort (MOE) application will be posted in Moodle. Stay tuned for updates.
- The American Rescue Plan (ARP) grant for special education will be released to LEAs this month. Guidance and applications, along with allocations, will be posted on Moodle with an announcement when available.
News from the Indiana Resource Network
Learn More About the Indiana Resource Network!
The Indiana Resource Network (IRN) provides (mostly free) professional development opportunities and office hours. Check out upcoming opportunities through this Google Doc.
Upcoming IRN events this month include:
Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
New Deaf Educator and Emergency Permit Professionals (N’DEEP) Cohort
Current Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with fewer than five years of experience in the field, Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing who have recently moved to Indiana, professionals working on an Emergency Permit for Deaf Education, and professionals interested in becoming a Teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing are all welcome to attend monthly mentoring sessions. Sign up for these sessions here.
PATINS
Access to Education 2021 is where dedicated educators, who are focused on ensuring that every student has equitable access to the curriculum, will come together to experience motivational keynotes, local and national presenter breakout sessions, opportunities to view the latest assistive technology, networking, and so much more!
The Schedule at a Glance is live! Topics include:
AEM to support reading
Accessibility with web tools
Executive functioning
Implementation of Assistive Technology (AT)
The return to face-to-face instruction
Support for English Language Learners (ELLs)
Universally designed lessons and assessments
And many more!
Cost: $100 for two days, $50 for a single day.
Register for a two-day conference ticket by Monday, September 13, 2021 to receive a welcome box with a pair of wireless earbuds! Welcome boxes will be sent to the first 150 eligible registrants.
Federal News and Guidance
National Center on Educational Outcomes FAQ on Testing Children with Disabilities
As states, districts, and schools return for the 2021-2022 school year, questions are raised about whether and how to test children with disabilities, including children with the most significant cognitive disabilities and English learners with disabilities. This FAQ addresses some common questions and provides links to useful resources.Return to School Roadmap under IDEA
OSERS sent a letter to its state and local partners reiterating its commitment to ensuring children with disabilities and their families have successful early intervention and educational experiences in the 2021-2022 school year. You can read more about it here.
Return to School Roadmap — Child Find Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
This Q&A document on Child Find Under Part B of IDEA reaffirms the importance of appropriate implementation of IDEA’s child find obligations, which requires the identification, location, and evaluation of all children with disabilities. An effective child find system is an ongoing part of each state’s responsibility to ensure that free appropriate public education (FAPE) is made available to all eligible children with disabilities.
Contact Us
Director of Special Education
Email: specialeducation@doe.in.gov
Website: https://www.in.gov/doe/students/special-education/
Location: Indiana Department of Education Indiana Government Center North 9th Floor 100 N. Senate Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317)232-0570