COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

 

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 123

June 22, 2007

 

INFORMATIONAL

 

TO:

Division Superintendents

 

FROM:

Billy K. Cannaday, Jr.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

 

SUBJECT:

Special Education State Performance Plan Reporting Data to the Public

 

The purpose of this memo is to provide information on steps the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is taking to implement the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) concerning reporting Special Education State Performance Plan data to the public.

 

IDEA requires states to report state-level and division-level data on the performance of students with disabilities. IDEA also requires reports on progress toward meeting state targets, as described in the Special Education State Performance Plan.

 

On Tuesday, June 26, Special Education Performance reports for the Commonwealth and school divisions will be available to the public as part of the Virginia School Report Card section of the VDOE website: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/src/index.shtml

 

The state- and division-level Special Education Performance reports include information on graduation and dropout rates, participation and performance on statewide assessments, and other performance indicators for students with disabilities.

 

Submitted earlier this year, Virginias State Performance Plan consists of 20 indicators prescribed by the United States Department of Education. The performance plan includes baseline data, specific targets for each indicator and improvement activities intended to help the state meet the targets specified in the plan. Fourteen of the 20 indicators are specific to school divisions and based on data reported to VDOE by school divisions. The remaining indicators are specific to VDOE. This year, states are only required to report on seven indicators (indicators 16 and 12).

 

Questions related to Virginias State Performance Plan should be directed to Mr. Paul J. Raskopf, director of financial and data services, Office of Special Education and Student Services, at paul.raskopf@doe.virginia.gov or at (804)225-2080

 

BKCJr/PJR/jcj