COMMONWEALTH
OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION
P.O.
BOX 2120
RICHMOND,
VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 66
December 19, 2003
ADMINISTRATIVE
|
TO: |
Division Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
2004-2005
Special Education Annual Plan/Part B Flow-Through Application |
Under the provisions of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Regulations Governing Special
Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (effective March
27, 2002), local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to submit an annual
plan and applications for providing special education and related services to
children with disabilities. The
2004-2005 Local Special Education Annual Plan and Report serves as the formal
agreement between a local school board and the Virginia Department of Education
for implementing federal and state laws and regulations governing this
program. Accordingly, the disbursement
of state and federal funds appropriated for the education of children with
disabilities is contingent upon the approval of this plan and application.
Each school division, state-operated program (SOP),
the Virginia School for the Deaf and for the Blind, Staunton, and the Virginia
School for the Deaf, Blind, and Multi-Disabled, Hampton (the Virginia Schools),
shall maintain current policies and procedures and supporting documentation to
demonstrate compliance with the Virginia Board of Education regulations
governing the provision of special education and related services, licensure,
and accreditation. Changes to the local
policies and procedures and supporting documentation shall be submitted upon
amendment or revision. Changes shall be
made as determined by local need; as a result of changes in state or federal
laws or regulations; as a result of required corrective action; or as a result
of decisions reached in administrative proceedings, judicial determinations, or
other findings of noncompliance.
Policies refer to the basic governing principles that
create rights and responsibilities for the conduct of the local educational
agency business. Procedures tell how
the local educational agency plans to implement the policies. School divisions are required to submit the
policies and procedures and the revisions to the policies and procedures to
their local school board for approval.
State-operated programs and the Virginia Schools are required to submit
the policies and procedures to the State Special Education Advisory Committee
for review.
The applications for use of the federal funds and
the annual plan components to be submitted annually are:
·
Comprehensive System of Personnel Development and
Report on Implementation;
·
The Local Improvement Plan;
·
Local Special Education Advisory Committee;
·
The regional or local jails interagency agreement;
·
The Report on the Implementation of the 2003-04
Plan; and
·
The Report on Use of Medicaid Funds.
Please note that only the revisions to the LEAs’
2004-2005 policies, procedures and supporting documentation need to be
submitted.
The Code of Virginia stipulates that the Department
of Education assures a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to eligible
children with disabilities from age two (by September 30 of the school
year). Federal clarification has
indicated that Part C (Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers with
Disabilities) regulations do not apply to any child with a disability who is
receiving FAPE under Part B Section 619.
This provision applies whether the services are fully or partially
funded under Section 619.
School divisions should return the original and one
complete copy of all documents by April 15, 2004. State-operated programs and the two Virginia Schools should
return the original and one complete copy of all documents by March 1,
2004. The annual plan should be sent to
B. Scott McMichael, coordinator of administrative services, Office of Dispute
Resolution and Administrative Services, Virginia Department of Education, P. O.
Box 2120, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120.
Attachments to this memo include Parts I and
II. Part III - Applications for Federal
Funds, including the Local Improvement Plan, will be made available in late
January 2004 on the following Web site http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/spedfinance/.
Sliver grant application forms will be included with
Part III. Please note that submission
of a sliver grant application will satisfy the annual plan requirement for a
local improvement plan (LIP).
Questions regarding the Part B application process
should be directed to B. Scott McMichael, coordinator of administrative
services, at (804) 786-0116 (email to smcmicha@mail.vak12ed.edu).
Specific instructions for state-operated programs
and the Virginia Schools should be directed to Karen Trump, director of the
state-operated programs and the Virginia Schools at (804) 225-2702 (email to ktrump@mail.vak12ed.edu).
Questions regarding sections 619 and 611
applications, as well as the Part III financial package, should be addressed to
Jerry Mathews, budget manager, at (804) 225-2704 (email to jmathews@mail.vak12ed.edu).
Questions regarding the comprehensive system of
personnel development should be addressed to Pat Burgess, education specialist,
at (804) 225-2096 (email to pburgess@mail.vak12ed.edu).
JLD/bsm
Attachment
http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/suptsmemos/2003/adm066a.doc
http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/suptsmemos/2003/adm066b.doc