From laura.allran at state.or.us Fri Apr 1 16:44:01 2011 From: laura.allran at state.or.us (ALLRAN Laura) Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 16:44:01 -0700 Subject: [SE-Dir] OSL&P: Secondary Transition Information Message-ID: TO: All District and ESD Special Education Directors The message below is being forwarded to you on behalf of: Nancy Latini, PhD Assistant Superintendent Student Learning & Partnerships ______________________________________________ April 1, 2011 RE: Secondary Transition Information Here is an opportunity for you and some of your staff who are interested in learning more about options for work and prep of your secondary students. If you have any difficulty opening the attached document, please contact Laura Allran at laura.allran at state.or.us or 503-947-5674. 2 Attachments: Project Employ Resource Fair Flyerfinal.pdf SP Project Employ Resource Fair Flyer.pdf Messages to and from this e-mail address may be made available to the public under Oregon law. ===========End of Message============ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Project Employ Resource Fair Flyerfinal.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 548713 bytes Desc: Project Employ Resource Fair Flyerfinal.pdf URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: SP_Project Employ Resource Fair Flyer.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 599841 bytes Desc: SP_Project Employ Resource Fair Flyer.pdf URL: From ruby.sandberg at state.or.us Mon Apr 4 09:14:02 2011 From: ruby.sandberg at state.or.us (SANDBERG Ruby) Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 09:14:02 -0700 Subject: [SE-Dir] NOTICE OF GRANT AWARDS: YOUTH TRANSITION PROGRAM Message-ID: TO: All District and ESD Special Education Directors The message below is being forwarded to you on behalf of: Nancy Latini, PhD Assistant Superintendent Student Learning & Partnerships ______________________________________________ April 4, 2011 RE: NOTICE OF GRANT AWARDS: YOUTH TRANSITION PROGRAM The Oregon Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (OVRS) released the Youth Transition Program (YTP) Request for Grant Proposal (RFGP) for the 2011-2013 biennium on March 25th, 2011. The Youth Transition Program (YTP) is a comprehensive transition program for youth with disabilities operated collaboratively by OVRS, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), the University of Oregon (U of O), and local school districts statewide in Oregon. Purpose: Prepare youth with disabilities for employment or career related post secondary education or training. Participants: Youth with disabilities who need additional support, beyond the services typically offered though the general or special education program, to achieve their secondary and post secondary employment and continuing education goals. YTP is currently operating in approximately 105 high schools in Oregon. OVRS contracts with a team from the U of O to provide training and technical assistance to school and rehabilitation personnel statewide. Specific RFGP information: http://www.ytporegon.org/ Date of Issuance: March 25, 2011 Proposals Due By: May 10, 2011 3:00 P.M. Local Time, at the issuing office. Funding: Available July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2013 Grants to be awarded through this RFGP support district Transition Specialist staff salaries and associated program costs. Matching Funds Requirement: In order for OVRS to draw available federal funds for the Youth Transition Program, OVRS must receive cash matching funds from participating school districts. District matching funds must: * Be from a non-federal source, and cannot be used as match for any other federal funds; * Must be cash. "In-kind" district resources may not be applied towards the required match. * Must equal one third (1/3) of the total grant budget. Use of Grant Funds:. Grant funded services may not supplant any learning experiences or decision making opportunities to which the student would otherwise be entitled under the district's responsibility to provide a Free and Appropriate Public Education as specified in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Ruby Sandberg, Executive Support to Nancy Latini, Assistant Superintendent Oregon Department of Education Office of Student Learning & Partnerships 503-947-5738 FAX: 503-378-5156 ruby.sandberg at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ruby.sandberg at state.or.us Wed Apr 6 13:15:53 2011 From: ruby.sandberg at state.or.us (SANDBERG Ruby) Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2011 13:15:53 -0700 Subject: [SE-Dir] IDEA Funding Changes Message-ID: TO: All District, ESD, and Program Special Education Directors and Business Managers The message below is being sent to you on behalf of: Nancy Latini, PhD Assistant Superintendent Student Learning & Partnerships ______________________________________________ April 6, 2011 RE: IDEA Funding Changes As most of you are aware, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the US Department of Education conducted a verification visit in Oregon last September. OSEP issued a verification letter to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) in February, and it contained two findings related to IDEA fiscal requirements. The purpose of this memo is to inform you of the changes that the ODE has implemented in response to those findings. I. Availability of Federal Funds * ODE's past practice for IDEA grants was to make these funds available for 18 months (e.g., July 1, 2008 - December 31, 2009), with a 45-day window to submit claims for reimbursement in the Electronic Grants Management System (EGMS). If districts were unable to expend the funds within this time period, they were contacted and given an extension through September 30. This was contrary to federal regulations. * Beginning with the FFY 2009 IDEA grants, all IDEA formula grants will be available to districts for 27 months (e.g., July 1, 2009 - September 30, 2011). * At the end of the 27-month period, districts will have 90 days to submit claims for reimbursement in EGMS. * The Special Education Finance Q&A (http://www.ode.state.or.us/data/schoolanddistrict/funding/sped/fundingqa.doc) has been updated to reflect this change (see question #9 on page 3), and all FFY 2009 and FFY 2010 awards have been extended to 9/30/11 and 9/30/12 respectively. New sub-grant award notifications for FFY 2010 grants were issued in late March when the final allocations were made available in the EGMS. II. IDEA Part B, Section 619 Funds * ODE's past practice for IDEA Part B, Section 619 funds was to direct 100% of the flow-through amount to Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education programs for services to children ages 3 through 5. This was contrary to federal regulations. * IDEA Part B, Section 619 funds are for children with disabilities ages 3 through 5, and a portion of the funds should have been directed to school districts based on the 5 year-old kindergarten students with disabilities that districts are responsible for serving. * Beginning with the FFY 2009 IDEA Part B, Section 619 grant, ODE has calculated the gross amount of funds that a district would receive if it were responsible for the education of all children with disabilities ages 3-5 residing within its boundaries. The calculation was computed according to the requirements outlined in 34 CFR ? 300.816. * As per the verification letter, ODE then calculated a per student amount based on the Special Education Child Count (SECC) for children ages 3-5 and determined how much of the district's gross amount must be distributed to the district to provide special education and related services to the eligible 5 year-old children with disabilities residing in the district who are enrolled in kindergarten. This amount is the net amount of 619 funds that will be made available in EGMS. * The amount of the distribution must go to all eligible districts, which in some cases will be very small. * For FFY 2009 and FFY 2010, the net amount for districts will come from state set-aside funds for those years. The current EI/ECSE contracts will not be reduced. * For FFY 2011 and forward, the amount of 619 funds distributed to districts will result in a reduced amount of 619 funds available for EI/ECSE contracts as these funds should from now on be distributed to the entity serving the children. * For districts identified with significant disproportionality in FFY 2009 or FFY 2010, the gross amount of 619 funds must be included in the 15% CEIS calculations for those years. Those districts will be contacted directly by ODE to ensure all requirements related to significant disproportionality are met. * FFY 2009 and FFY 2010 sub grants will be available in EGMS later this month, and sub grant award notifications will be issued at that time. * The grant manager for 619 sub grants is Alan Garland (alan.garland at state.or.us or 503.947.5759). Ruby Sandberg, Executive Support to Nancy Latini, Assistant Superintendent Oregon Department of Education Office of Student Learning & Partnerships 503-947-5738 FAX: 503-378-5156 ruby.sandberg at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ruby.sandberg at state.or.us Wed Apr 13 10:32:50 2011 From: ruby.sandberg at state.or.us (SANDBERG Ruby) Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:32:50 -0700 Subject: [SE-Dir] State Request for Special Education MOE Waiver Message-ID: TO: All District and ESD Special Education Directors The message below is being forwarded to you on behalf of: Nancy Latini, PhD Assistant Superintendent Student Learning & Partnerships ______________________________________________ April 13, 2011 RE: STATE REQUEST FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION MOE WAIVER As you know on March 8, 2011 the Oregon Department of Education submitted a request for a special education waiver to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). After two follow up calls and submitting additional information as they requested we were notified late last week that Oregon was denied a waiver. OSEP determined that the submitted shortfall for Maintenance of Effort (MOE) was not due to "exceptional or uncontrollable circumstances to grant a waiver" and Oregon will not be granted a waiver to allow for a reduction to its amount of State financial support provided for special education and related services . The Department is working with our legislative leadership to determine what steps we might be able to take to address the issue. As you are aware, if Oregon does not meet special education MOE the funds from IDEA will be reduced by the same amount by which we fail to meet the requirement. At this time the amount is approximately $15 million. Please know that we are working to ensure that Oregon legislative leadership has all the necessary information to determine their next steps. Do not hesitate to contact me should you have further questions. Nancy Latini, PhD Assistant Superintendent Oregon Department of Education Student Learning & Partnerships 503-947-5702 nancy.latini at state.or.us Ruby Sandberg, Executive Support to Nancy Latini, Assistant Superintendent Oregon Department of Education Office of Student Learning & Partnerships 503-947-5738 FAX: 503-378-5156 ruby.sandberg at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ruby.sandberg at state.or.us Wed Apr 13 12:19:18 2011 From: ruby.sandberg at state.or.us (SANDBERG Ruby) Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:19:18 -0700 Subject: [SE-Dir] Parent Involvement Survey Message-ID: The message below is being forwarded to you on behalf of: Nancy Latini, PhD Assistant Superintendent Student Learning & Partnerships ______________________________________________ Oregon Department of Education Office of Special Education 255 Capitol Street NE April 13, 2011 Salem, OR 97310-0203 TO: All District and ESD Special Education Directors FROM: Nancy Latini RE: Parent Involvement Survey As part of the State Performance Plan (SPP), Oregon Department of Education (ODE) conducts an annual parent survey to measure how well schools reach out to parents of children with disabilities and engage them in the education of their children. ODE uses the National Center for Special Education Accountability Monitoring (NCSEAM) Family Survey. Each district is surveyed once during the six-year sampling cycle. The results of the survey are incorporated into the district's Special Education Report Card. In small districts, all families are surveyed; in large districts, random sampling is used. The results report the percent of parents who say that schools facilitated parent involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities. The survey includes questions on the district's efforts to partner with parents, the quality and impact of special education services on family, and parent participation in the special education process. The attached sample letter was developed for you to share with parents at annual IEP meetings, during the distribution of the Special Education Report Card, or other means. You may revise the letter to include information on local parent involvement activities and volunteer opportunities. Also attached is a flyer for families who may be asked to participate in the 2011 parent involvement survey. Please share this flyer with families of children with disabilities residing in the following school districts: Arock, Ashwood, Bethel, Blachly, Burnt River, Butte Falls, Coos Bay, Corvallis, Dayville, Double O, Dufur, Fossil, Frenchglen, Gaston, Gervais, Glide, Harrisburg, Hood River, Huntington, Imbler, Jefferson, Joseph, Juntura, Klamath Falls City, Malheur County, Molalla River, Newberg, North Powder, Oakland, Oakridge, Perrydale, Powers, Prospect, Reynolds, Rogue River, Sisters, Troy, Ukiah, Union, and Yamhill-Carlton. An additional flyer is attached for distribution to school administrators and special education staff in those districts that will be surveyed in spring 2011. We anticipate that the surveys will be mailed to parents in late April or May. If you have questions or would like a copy of the survey, please contact Robbi Perry at robbi.perry at state.or.us. Attachments: Parent letter - general notice on parent involvement & survey Parent Flyer - for use in districts being surveyed spring 2011 Staff Flyer - for use in districts being surveyed spring 2011 Ruby Sandberg, Executive Support to Nancy Latini, Assistant Superintendent Oregon Department of Education Office of Student Learning & Partnerships 503-947-5738 FAX: 503-378-5156 ruby.sandberg at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Staff Flyer.doc Type: application/msword Size: 174080 bytes Desc: Staff Flyer.doc URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Parent Flyer.docx Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document Size: 156725 bytes Desc: Parent Flyer.docx URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Sample Parent Letter.doc Type: application/msword Size: 28672 bytes Desc: Sample Parent Letter.doc URL: From ruby.sandberg at state.or.us Mon Apr 18 16:22:07 2011 From: ruby.sandberg at state.or.us (SANDBERG Ruby) Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:22:07 -0700 Subject: [SE-Dir] Input Requested on Proposed 2011-12 Reading Cut Scores Message-ID: TO: All District and ESD Special Education Directors The message below is being forwarded to you on behalf of: Nancy Latini, PhD Assistant Superintendent Student Learning & Partnerships ______________________________________________ April 18, 2011 RE: Input Requested on Proposed 2011-12 Reading Cut Scores This past year, the State Board of Education voted to raise math achievement standards (learn more at http://www.ode.state.or.us/go/mathachievement). During the math achievement standard setting process, many districts commented that the reading achievement standards should be reviewed as well. ODE has conducted a statistical review and found evidence that the current reading achievement standards for the earlier grades are not rigorous enough to ensure our students are prepared for high school level work, the Essential Skills, and the challenges of college and career. At the recommendation of the reading achievement standard setting panel, ODE staff will propose new Reading Achievement Standards (i.e. cut scores) to the State Board of Education for adoption on May 19, 2011 to be implemented in the 2011-12 school year. For more information on the proposed achievement standards and the standard setting process, visit http://www.ode.state.or.us/go/readingachievement. We are seeking input from a wide range of Oregon stakeholders including educators, school administrators, community college and university staff, parents, and members of the business community and general public. This feedback will be shared with the State Board. To share your feedback on the proposed reading achievement standards, please review the proposed changes at http://www.ode.state.or.us/go/readingachievement and then complete our survey, available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YVY9PK6. The survey will remain open through May 8, 2011. Ruby Sandberg, Executive Support to Nancy Latini, Assistant Superintendent Oregon Department of Education Office of Student Learning & Partnerships 503-947-5738 FAX: 503-378-5156 ruby.sandberg at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ruby.sandberg at state.or.us Mon Apr 18 16:27:13 2011 From: ruby.sandberg at state.or.us (SANDBERG Ruby) Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:27:13 -0700 Subject: [SE-Dir] Oregon Response to Intervention - Applications Available for 2011-12 Message-ID: TO: All District and ESD Special Education Directors and Curriculum Directors The message below is being sent to you on behalf of: Nancy Latini, PhD Assistant Superintendent Student Learning & Partnerships ______________________________________________ April 19, 2011 RE: Oregon Response to Intervention - Applications Available for 2011-12 Dear Oregon District Representative: The Oregon Department of Education has proudly supported the Oregon Response to Intervention (Or-RTI) Initiative for the past 6 years. In conjunction with our partner, Tigard-Tualatin School District, 37 school districts across Oregon have received funding, training, and technical assistance to build district capacity for the adoption and implementation of RTI. Each of these school districts has taught us the importance of a common framework for successful RTI implementation. Additionally, we have learned that applying the framework to the unique needs of each district is a necessary component of successful implementation. These 37 districts have also experienced the full breadth of the RTI model that allows for educational decision making across the full range of student needs in both general and special education. ODE is committed to maintaining and furthering the work within the RTI framework and is pleased to announce the seventh round of applications. You can find the application on-line: http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=2502 Please fax, email, or mail your application to Martha Buenrostro, by May 20, 2011. If you have any questions, please contact Martha Buenrostro at 503.947.5611 and/or through email: martha.buenrostro at state.or.us Fax #: 503.378.5156 Email: martha.buenrostro at state.or.us Street address: Oregon Department of Education Student Learning and Partnerships Martha Buenrostro 255 Capitol St. NE Salem, OR 97310-0203 Ruby Sandberg, Executive Support to Nancy Latini, Assistant Superintendent Oregon Department of Education Office of Student Learning & Partnerships 503-947-5738 FAX: 503-378-5156 ruby.sandberg at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ruby.sandberg at state.or.us Thu Apr 21 15:22:09 2011 From: ruby.sandberg at state.or.us (SANDBERG Ruby) Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:22:09 -0700 Subject: [SE-Dir] IDEA Part B Grant Award Estimates for 2011-2012 Message-ID: TO: All District and ESD Special Education Directors and Business Managers The message below is being forwarded to you on behalf of: Nancy Latini, PhD Assistant Superintendent Student Learning & Partnerships _________________________________________________________________________ April 21, 2011 RE: IDEA Part B Grant Award Estimates for 2011-2012 Please find two spreadsheets that estimate your total IDEA Part B Grant Awards for 2011-2012 at this link: http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=2937. Included in the spreadsheets are the gross and net estimated totals for your district for Part B Sections 611 and 619 and the estimated 15% for Coordinated Early Intervening Services. The only difference between the two estimates is the amount of Part B Section 611 funds for each district. One version estimates full IDEA funding for 2011-12, and the other version estimates reduced funding based on the US Department of Education's denial of Oregon's MOE waiver request. Please note that the estimates are based on flat funding of IDEA from last year as final allocation amounts from the US Department of Education are not available at this time. We are not able to provide you with final award amounts until March of 2012 after new data is provided to our office to run the final formula. Traditionally, our estimates have very closely approximated the final award amount. Another useful resource is our Special Education Finance Q and A. This document can be helpful for IDEA budget and expenditure planning, and is accessible though this link: Special Education Financing Q & A We hope that this information will be helpful to you as you prepare for the 2010-2011 school year. If you have questions about the spreadsheet or Special Education Financing Q and A, please contact Steve Smith at steve.w.smith at state.or.us or you may call him at 503-947-5711. If you have any difficulty opening the links, please contact Ruby Sandberg at ruby.sandberg at state.or.us or 503-947-5738. The Oregon Department of Education is an equal opportunity agency and employer. Messages to and from this e-mail address may be made available to the public under Oregon law. ***************************** Ruby Sandberg, Executive Support to Nancy Latini, Assistant Superintendent Oregon Department of Education Office of Student Learning & Partnerships 503-947-5738 FAX: 503-378-5156 ruby.sandberg at state.or.us Ruby Sandberg, Executive Support to Nancy Latini, Assistant Superintendent Oregon Department of Education Office of Student Learning & Partnerships 503-947-5738 FAX: 503-378-5156 ruby.sandberg at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ruby.sandberg at state.or.us Fri Apr 29 11:23:40 2011 From: ruby.sandberg at state.or.us (SANDBERG Ruby) Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:23:40 -0700 Subject: [SE-Dir] 2010-11 NASDSE Professional Development Series Message-ID: TO: All District and ESD Special Education Directors The message below is being forwarded to you on behalf of: Nancy Latini, PhD Assistant Superintendent Student Learning & Partnerships _________________________________________________________________________ April 29, 2011 RE: 2010-11 NASDSE Professional Development Series The next session of the 2010-2011 NASDSE Satellite Series, Virtual Special Education: Issues & Answers, will be available online 24/7 beginning Wednesday, May 4, 2011 after 10 a.m. PT. The conference will be accessible using a new web-delivery system: * Open your web browser to http://pd.nasdse.org/. * Click on the conference you would like to view. * You will be taken to a screen that asks for an access code. * The access code will not change throughout the series. Oregon's access code is: 1011oregon5 This login provides access to the online conference viewing page where all related PowerPoint presentations and resources will be available for download by individual viewers. Key features to note: * The new web-delivery system features full-text searchable knowledge base to allow you to search for key concepts throughout the conference. * All PowerPoints and background documents will be available for download on the conference page, as well as the ODE website. * Both the web and DVD versions of the conference utilize verbatim transcription and captioning. Remember that because the conference is a subscription service, the access information is no longer available directly on the ODE website at anytime. This information must remain within the state and should not be posted on public websites. The Department will continue to provide DVD copies of the broadcasts for rebroadcast and/or dissemination by ESDs and schools. Should you require further assistance or information, please contact Stella Brown at 503.947.5643, or by email at stella.brown at state.or.us. Ruby Sandberg, Executive Support to Nancy Latini, Assistant Superintendent Oregon Department of Education Office of Student Learning & Partnerships 503-947-5738 FAX: 503-378-5156 ruby.sandberg at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: