DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - | dcps · District of Columbia State Advisory Panel on Special Education | iii implementation of Hearing Officer Determinations (HODs), Early Childhood Transition

DISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA

STATEADVISORYPANELONSPECIALEDUCATION

2014-2015ANNUALREPORT

Findings,AnalysisandRecommendations:AReviewofEducationProgramsandServicesforStudents

withDisabilitiesintheDistrictofColumbia

July21,2015

DistrictofColumbiaStateAdvisoryPanelonSpecialEducation|i

THEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIASTATEADVISORYPANELONSPECIALEDUCATION

July21,2015

TheHonorableMurielBowser,MayorTheDistrictofColumbiaJohnA.WilsonBuilding1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,NWWashington,DC20004TheHonorablePhilMendelson,ChairCounciloftheDistrictofColumbia1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,NWSuite504Washington,DC20004JenniferNiles,DeputyMayorofEducationOfficeoftheDeputyMayorofEducation1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,NWSuite303Washington,DC20004HansuelKang,StateSuperintendentofEducationOfficeoftheStateSuperintendentofEducation(OSSE)810FirstStreet,NE–9thFloorWashington,DC20002JackJacobson,PresidentDistrictofColumbiaStateBoardofEducation4414thStreet,NWSuite723Washington,DC20001

DistrictofColumbiaStateAdvisoryPanelonSpecialEducation|ii

INTRODUCTIONANDACKNOWLEDGMENTS FROMTHECHAIR

DearMayorBowser,CouncilmemberMendelson,DeputyMayorofEducationNiles,StateSuperintendentofEducationKang,andStateBoardofEducationPresidentJacobson:TheStateAdvisoryPanelonSpecialEducation(SAPPanel)ispleasedtodeliverits2014-2015AnnualReport.TheSAPservesasanadvisorybodytotheMayor,andtheOfficeoftheStateSuperintendentofEducation(OSSE),theDistrict’sStateEducationAgency(SEA),onmatterspertainingtotheeducationofchildrenandyouthwithdisabilitiesservedbypublicandprivateagenciesintheDistrictofColumbia.

ThePanel’sprimaryresponsibilityistoadviseOSSEanditsDivisionofElementary,SecondaryandSpecializedEducation(ESSE)onunmetneedsofstudentswithdisabilities,includingthedevelopmentofevaluations,reports,andcorrectiveactionplansinresponsetofederalmonitoring.Italsoprovidespolicyguidanceandrecommendationsregardingprocedurestocoordinateeducationandrelatedservicesforstudentswithdisabilities,usingitsmembers’personalexpertiseandexperiencesaspresentandpastconsumersorprovidersoftheState’sservices.

Asummaryofouractivities,findingsandrecommendationsareincludedinthisreport.WewishtocommendandthanktheleadershipofOSSEforitsadministrativesupport,aswellasongoingcommunicationandinvolvementwiththePanelastheydevelopedinnovativeorenhancedpolicies,proceduresandprograms.ThiswasanunusualyearwhichincludedmanychangesinOSSE’sleadershipandliaisontothePanel.Inaddition,therewasanoticeabledeclineintheactiveparticipationofanumberofappointedPanelmembers,particularlythosewhoweretorepresenttheimportantchild-servingstateagencies.Whilechangeisalmostalwaysverydisruptivetoanorganizationandsupporters,therewasnochangeinthePanel’scommitmenttoservestudentswitheducationalchallengesandtheirfamilies.

AsChairperson,IwishtothankDarylGorman,theoutgoingDirectorofDCBoardsandCommissions;ourlongservingOSSE-ESSE’sstaffliaison,DesiréeBrown,SpecialProjectsManager,CommunityandParentRelations;aswellaspanelmembers:Ja’SentBrown,JulieCamerata,BetsyClydeCentofanti,RochandaHiligh-Thomas,ElizabethRihani,RebeccaSalon,ShawnUllman,andMollyWhalen,allofwhomwentbeyondthecallofdutytoensurethePanel’ssuccess.Inaddition,weareveryappreciativeoftheattentionandeffortsofournewlyappointedOSSE/SAPContact,SherylHamilton,DirectorofCommunityLearningandSchoolSupport(CLASS)UnitandJustinD.Lawson,AssociateDirectorintheMayor’sOfficeofTalentandAppointments(MOTA)whoisprovidingoutstandingsupporttothePanelaswebeginanewyear.

Inordertoensurethatourtimewasusedmostefficiently,thepanelworkedcloselywithOSSE-ESSE,onissuesthattheyidentifiedasneedingthemostattention.WecommendthepositiveforwardprogressthatthestaffofOSSE-ESSEhasmadethisyearin:policyformation,

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implementationofHearingOfficerDeterminations(HODs),EarlyChildhoodTransitionandTransportation.Itisclearthatthesepositiveeffortsarecreatingstabilityinasystemwhichhashadalonghistoryofinstability,andnoncompliance,withtheimplementationoftheIndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationAct(IDEA).

WhiletheJune30,2015,USDepartmentofEducationDeterminationLettertoSuperintendentKangstillindicateda“NeedsInterventionDetermination”fortheState,italsonotedsubstantialprogressinareaswhichhavebeenproblematicsincetheearly1970s.WelookforwardtohelpingtheAgencycontinuetoaddressthecriticalissueswhichneedcorrection.

Moreimportantly,wepledgetomonitorthecontinuedimplementationofsuchpoliciesandpractices,andtoadvocateforimprovedqualityoftheserviceswhicharenowprovided.ItisimportantthatthereiswidespreadinvolvementandcommitmentthroughouttheCity,ifworkofthePanelistobemeaningful.Therefore,itisimperativethatthe2015-2016Panelbuildupontheworkofthisyear,andcontinuetofocusonkeyareaswithinspecialeducationwhichdemandongoingreviewandproblemsolving.Becausetimeconstraintsonparentsandvolunteersaremorepressingthanever,recruitmentanduseofthesevaluablevolunteersmustbedecidedlydifferentfromtheoriginal1970sSAPmodel.

Theappointments,roles,responsibilitiesandconfigurationoffutureSAPsmustbereexamined,sothatthegreatestnumberofconcernedconstituentscanfullyparticipate.MOTAhasalreadybeguntheimportantworkofidentifyingandappointingnewstakeholderswhoarereadytojointheteam.

IthasbeenmypleasuretoserveasChairofthisdynamic,caringgroupofPanelmembers.

RespectfullySubmitted,

SenoraD.Simpson,ChairDistrictofColumbiaStateAdvisoryPanelonSpecialEducation

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TableofContentsI. OVERVIEW 1

II. PURPOSE,FUNCTION,ANDCOMPOSIT IONOF THE STATEADVISORYPANELONSPECIALEDUCATION 2

III. SCHEDULEOFMEETINGS 3

IV. ACTIVITIESANDACCOMPLISHMENTS 4

V. REPORTSANDRECOMMENDATIONS 7

APPENDIXA 8

2014AnnualReport

DistrictofColumbiaStateAdvisoryPanelonSpecialEducation|1

I. OVERVIEWThis2014AnnualReportoftheStateAdvisoryPanelonSpecialEducationfortheDistrictofColumbiaisrespectfullysubmittedtotheMayorandCounciloftheDistrictofColumbia.TheIndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationAct(IDEA),(Authority)20U.S.C.1412(a)(21)(A))CFR34Part300§300.167,requiresthatthestateestablishandmaintainanadvisorypanelforthepurposeofprovidingpolicyguidancewithrespecttospecialeducationandrelatedservicesforchildrenwithdisabilitiesinthestate.TheStateAdvisoryPanelfortheDistrictofColumbiaisappointedbytheMayorandiscomposedofmembersfromthepublicandprivatesectors–includingparentsofchildrenwithdisabilities,advocates,representativesofstateagenciesandeducators-representingawidevarietyofperspectivesandinterestsrelatedtotheeducationofchildrenwithdisabilities.Throughouttheyear,Panelmembersmeettodiscuss,reviewandanalyzeissuesrelevanttotheeducationofchildrenandyouthwithdisabilitiesintheDistrictofColumbia.ThisreportsummarizestheactivitiesandrecommendationsoftheDistrict’sStateAdvisoryPanelfortheperiodoftimefromJuly1,2014throughJune30,2015.

AccordingtotheofficialChildCount,conductedannuallybyeachLEAandcertifiedtoOSSE,therewere12,173studentsreceivingservicesunderIDEA.

Thepurposeofthisreportistoprovidepolicymakers,educators,parents,andthegeneralpublicwithanoverviewofthemajorconcernsandissuesraisedandreviewedbythemembersofthePanelduringthe2014-15termsandtoproviderecommendationsandbenchmarksforfuture,necessaryimprovementinSpecialEducationwhichcanbeusedbysucceedingpanels.

ApublishedcopyofthisreportismadeavailablebytheOfficeoftheStateSuperintendentofEducation(OSSE)andislocatedontheOSSEwebsite:http://osse.dc.gov.

2014AnnualReport


II. PURPOSE,FUNCTION,ANDCOMPOSITIONOFTHE STATEADVISORYPANELONSPECIALEDUCATIONPurposeandFunctions

AsdetailedintheMayor’sOrder2012-48,effectiveApril5,2012thepurposeoftheDistrictofColumbia’sStateAdvisoryPanelonSpecialEducation(“thePanel”)istoserveasanadvisorybodytotheMayor,theDistrictofColumbiaPublicSchoolsandtheOfficeoftheStateSuperintendentofEducation(OSSE-formerlytheStateEducationOffice)onmatterspertainingtotheeducationofchildrenandyouthwithdisabilitiesservedbypublicandprivateagenciesoftheDistrictofColumbia.

Functionsofthepanelinclude,butarenotlimitedto:advisingonunmetneedsofstudentswithdisabilities,reportingtotheUSDepartmentofEducation,developingcorrectiveactionplans,educationofstudentswithdisabilitiesincarceratedinadultprisons,andcoordinationanddeliveryofspecialeducationandrelatedservices;reviewingandcommentingonproposedlegislation,regulations,andpolicies,aswellastheStatePerformancePlanandAnnualPerformanceReport;andpreparinganannualreportofitsactivitiesandrecommendationsfortheMayor,OSSE,andotherDistrictagencies.

CompositionofthePanel

TheSAPisappointedbytheMayorthroughtheOfficeofBoardsandCommissions.ThePanelconsistsofatleast15votingmembers,themajorityofwhommustbeparentsofchildrenwithdisabilitiesorindividualswithdisabilities.OthermembersoftheSAPincluderepresentativesfromschools,Districtagenciesthatservechildrenandcommunityorganizationsthatdemonstrateaninterestinissuesaffectingspecialeducation.

(SeeAppendixAforacompletelistofPanelistsandtheirareaofrepresentation.)

2014AnnualReport


III. SCHEDULEOFMEETINGSThePanelisrequiredtoconveneatleastfour(4)meetingseachcalendaryear.Thescheduleofmeetingsfortheschoolyear2014-15wasasfollows:

• November13,2014 10:00-12:00

• March27,2015 10:00-12:00

• May21,2015 10:00-12:00

Inschoolyear2014-15,theSAPdiscussedconcernsregardingwaningparticipationamongpanelmembersandagreedtomovetoaquarterlyschedule,usingvirtualmeetingswhenpossible.BecausetheSpringmeetingwaspostponeduntilMay2015,itbecamedifficulttoaccommodateaSummermeetingpriortotheendoftheschoolyearthatwouldnothaveredundantcontent.Accordingly,theyearendreportwascompletedviaelectroniccommunication.

2014AnnualReport


IV. ACTIVITIESANDACCOMPLISHMENTS

A.PRIORITIES

ThePanellaunchedits2014-15activitiesandeffortsonThursday,November21,2014,withafocusonprovidinginputontheStatePerformancePlanforSpecialEducationandfortheStateSystemicImprovementPlan,astrategicplanmandatedbytheIndividualswithDisabilitiesAct(IDEA)of2004.

StatePerformancePlan(SPP)

TheDistrictofColumbiaSPPforSpecialEducationspecifiestheprocessthatallLocalEducationAgenciesmustfollowtoidentify,evaluateandserveallchildrenwithdisabilitieswhoareresidentsoftheDistrictofColumbia.InaccordancewithIDEA,theSPPspecifieshowtheDistrictofColumbiawillevaluateitseffortstoimplementtherequirementsandpurposesofIDEAanditsworktoimprovestudentperformance/achievement.Thissix-yearplanrequiresthecompletionandpublicationofannualperformancereportsthatmeasureDC’sprogressinmeetingtargetsestablishedintheSPP.

StateSystemicImprovementPlan(SSIP)

InordertoshiftStates’focusfromoneofsolelycompliancetoresultsforstudentswithdisabilities,theUSDepartmentofEducationchangedsomerequirementsfortheSPP,beginningthisyear.ThischangeismanifestedinanewindicatorintheSPP,indicator17.Indicator17ofthePlanisnowacomprehensive,multi-yearStateSystemicImprovementPlan(SSIP),designedtofocusStatesonimprovingresultsforstudentswithdisabilities.InFederalFiscalYear2014,theSSIPwasinitiatedtopushStatestotakeasystemicapproachtoreformviaafocusononepriorityarea.ThisnewindicatorrevisesthepreviousSPPdesign,whichincludedmultiplesmallimprovementplansforeachseparateindicatorintheSPP.

Afterextensiveconsultationwithstakeholders,includingtheSAP,OSSEconfirmedthatincreasingthegraduationratesofstudentswithdisabilitieswasthemosturgentpriorityforDC.OSSEalsodeterminedthatimprovingoutcomesinthisareawouldbebestachievedthroughalignmentofeffortsandresourcesbetweentheSEA’stargetsundertheElementaryandSecondaryEducationAct(ESEA)andIDEA.

Asaresult,OSSEcreatedthefollowingState-IdentifiedMeasurableResult(SIMR)fortheDCSSIP:

TheDistrictofColumbiawillincreasetherateofgraduationwitharegulardiplomaforallstudentswithdisabilitieswithafocusonstudentswhoattendahighschoolthathasagraduationrateoflessthan50%forstudentswithdisabilities,andisalsoinFocusorPriorityschoolstatusundertheESEAFlexibilitywaiveraccountabilitysystem.

2014AnnualReport


IntheSSIP,OSSEoutlinesatieredapproachtoreform:implementationofasetof“universal”strategies,orstrategiesthatwillbeappliedcity-wideandavailabletoallhighschools,andasetof“targeted”strategies,orstrategiesspecificallydesignedtomoreintensivelyaddressourmoststrugglinghighschoolsandthestudentsservedbythem.

SSIPUniversalStrategies:

• Establishstate-levelmobilityworkgrouptoaddresstheneedsofhighlymobilestudents

• Supportspecialeducationcommunityofpracticeforpractitionersservingstudentswithdisabilitiesinsecondarygrades

• CreateMasterTeacherCadre(MTC)ofcurrentteacherleaderswhoareidentifiedtoprovidepeer-to-peercoachinginhighschoolclassroomsservingstudentswithdisabilities

• Provideprofessionaldevelopmentinevidence-basedschool-widesupportmodels(PBIS,RTI,UDL)

SSIPTargetedsupport(forSIMRsubpopulationhighschoolsandtheirneighborhoodfeederschools):

• EighthtoNinthGradeOrientationActivities

• PeertoPeerMentoring

• CoordinatedCaseReview(betweenmiddleandhighschoolspecialeducationstafftosupportsmoothentryforstudentswithdisabilities)

• CheckandConnectProgram(orsimilar)

TheSAPlooksforwardtosupportingOSSEwithimplementationoftheSSIPplanbeginninginthe2015-2016schoolyear.

B. STATEADVISORYPANELGOALS

Inrecentyears,Districteffortshavefocusedondevelopingastrongaccountabilitysystemwiththecapacitytostoreandmanagetimely,accurateandaccessibledatatoinformcompliance-basedanalyses.Accordingly,compliancerateshavesignificantlyimprovedintheDistrictofColumbia.InSY2014-15,OSSEsoughttorewritestategoalstoalignwitharesultsdriventheoryofactionandsoughtinputfromtheSAPtoensureinputfromcriticalstakeholderswasaddressed.

2014AnnualReport


Inaddition,thePanelidentifiedtheissueofwaningPanelparticipationasanongoingchallengetotheworkofthecommittee.Accordingly,thePaneladdressedthefollowinginSY2014-15:

1. StatePerformancePlan(SPP)2. StateSystemicImprovementPlan(SSIP)3. RoleandMembershipoftheSAP

C. PANELACTIVITIES

The Panel:

• SupportedOSSE’sdevelopmentoftheSSIP,asoutlinedabove.

• ReceivedregularupdatesfromDr.AmyMaisterra,AssistantSuperintendent,ESSE.

• ReceivedadvancenoticeandprovidedinputregardingOSSE’sproposedrevisionstoTitle5-E,Chapter30oftheDistrictofColumbiaMunicipalRegulations(DCMR).

• Reviewedand approvedthe SAP 2013-2014 AnnualReport.

• PartneredwithOSSEtocreateawarenessofinformationsharingactivitiesinthelocalcommunityincludingSSIPdevelopment,roll-outoftheDistrict’snewonlineassessments,requirementsrelatedtosecondarytransitioncompliance,student-ledIEPs,andtheannualspecialeducationservicedeliveryparentsurvey.

2014AnnualReport


V. REPORTSANDRECOMMENDATIONSAscompellingissuessuchastransportation,timelyissuanceofIndividualizedEducationPlans,andappropriateserviceprovisionwereeffectivelyaddressed,manypanelmemberswerenolongeractivelyengaged.Inthe2015-2016year,SAPmemberswillbeworkingwithOSSEtoimplementtheSSIPandwillberecruitingadditionalSAPmembers,withaspecialfocusonfamiliesandyouth/adultswithdisabilitieswhohavesuccessfullytransitionedfromschooltoadultlife.TheSAPwillalsolookatestablishingparentcabinetsineachwardisapossibility

2014AnnualReport


APPENDIXAMembersofthePanelconsistofrepresentativesfrombothpublicandprivatesectorswhobyvirtueoftheirposition,interestandtrainingcancontributetotheeducationofchildrenwithdisabilities.Amajority(51%)ofthemembersofthePanelmustbeindividualswithdisabilitiesorparentsofchildrenwithdisabilities.

AppointedPanel Members:

SenoraSimpson--Chair/Parent

Acquaviva,Kim--Parent

Brown, Ja’Sent--OSSE-HomelessEducationStateCoordinator

Camerata,Julie --CommunityOrganization

Clyde Centofanti,Betsy--Parent

Ernst,Kimberly --Parent

Fitzgerald,Timothy --Childand FamilyServicesAgency

Hiligh-Thomas,Rochanda--Parent

Kent,Martha--Parent

LeConte,Pamela--InstitutionofHigherEducation

Morilus-Black,Marie--DCDepartmentofBehavioralHealth

Morse,Elisabeth--DCDepartmentofYouthRehabilitationServices

Munter,Tony --ParentQuinn, John--Parent

Reid-Witt,Karla--Parent

Rihani, Elizabeth--Parent

Rodgers,Yvette –Parent

Salon,Rebecca--DCDepartmentonDisabilityServices

Sauls,Claudia --Parent

Settle,Kaitlin--Teacher-DCPublicSchoolsUllman, Shawn--UniversityLegalServicesWhalen, Molly–Parent

2014AnnualReport


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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - | dcps · District of Columbia State Advisory Panel on Special Education | iii implementation of Hearing Officer Determinations (HODs), Early Childhood Transition