To view the PDF please click on the document title.

March 3, 2008

This In-Brief Policy Analysis reports findings gathered from a survey of state special education staff. Findings are reported in the areas such as: staffing and funding for AT services at the state and local levels; state guidance; and professional development. Most of the responding states provide guidance and support to local education agencies regarding the need for AT evaluation and addressing student-specific needs. All states provide at least general training about AT services and programs. Most states do not provide an AT certificate or degree program. Findings show much variability among states in the amount of staffing provided, the ways in which funds are spent for AT and the types of professional development provided. An appendix provides access to state websites for education-related AT programs and services. (Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.)

March 2, 2008

This Brief Policy Analysis is based on a survey of all state education agencies (SEAs). Findings include information regarding the variation among states as they establish policy and staffing patterns for administering the summary of performance requirement in IDEA 2004. An SOP policy exists in 25 of the 40 responding SEAs. Staff with dedicated time to oversee the policy implementation are employed in 23 SEAs. Half of the SEAs report that overseeing this policy is a challenge. SEAS also show variability in who receives and when they receive the SOP. Most states also provide general technical assistance on the implementation of the SOP primarily for LEA staff. The survey protocol and individual state SOP websites are included as appendices. (Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.)

March 1, 2008

This Policy Forum Proceedings briefly discusses the federal, state and local roles that affect graduation requirements for all students, including students with disabilities. The purpose of the policy forum was to express issues related to graduation requirements for students with disabilities and develop policy recommendations to address these issues at the local, state and federal levels. Background research and a summary of panel and participant discussion are provided. Issues raised and recommendations with actions steps are provided. (Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.)

December 1, 2007

This In-Brief Policy Analysis is based on interviews with state education and local education representatives from three states regarding strategies for including special education in high school reform efforts; resources; barriers; and recommendations for improving integration of special education in high school reform. (Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.)

November 30, 2007

This In-Depth Policy Analysis begins with a background on the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) development and implementation of a single repository for K-12 education data. It also includes a summary of interviews held with seven state special education directors and/or their data managers along with each state’s EDFacts coordinator to obtain information on the states’ submission of special education data via EDFacts. Findings are reported in the following areas:

• State staffing;
• Interaction between general and special education divisions;
• Effect of EDFacts on SEA structure and operations;
• Changes in special education reporting;
• Technical assistance from the ED for the transition to EDFacts; and
• Benefits and challenges of EDFacts.

The document closes with a section on observations and conclusions. (Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.)