DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 43
December 5, 2008
ADMINISTRATIVE
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Patricia I.
Wright Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
2009-2010
Special Education Annual Plan/Part B Flow-Through Application |
Under the provisions of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004), its federal
implementing regulations, 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 for
providing special education and related services to children with disabilities. The 2009-2010 Special Education Annual Plan
serves as the formal agreement between a local school board and the Virginia
Department of Education (VDOE) for implementing federal and state laws and
regulations governing these services.
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 each of its components.
Each school division, state-operated program (SOP), and
the
In addition to the “Certification” and “Policy
Statement” sections, the Annual Plan includes the following components:
·
The Local Special Education Advisory
Committee form;
·
The Regional or Local Jails Interagency
Agreement, if applicable;
·
The Report on the Implementation of the 2007-2008
Plan; and
·
The application for use of federal
funds.
Prior to submitting its Annual Plan to the Virginia
Department of Education, each school division shall review its Annual Plan with
its local special education advisory committee and submit its Annual Plan to
the local school board for approval.
State-operated programs (SOPs) and the
School divisions, SOPs, and the VSDB must return the
original and one complete copy of all Annual Plan documents by May 18, 2009. The Annual Plan should be sent to Melissa C.
P. Smith, coordinator of administrative services, Office of Dispute Resolution
and Administrative Services, Virginia Department of Education,
School divisions, SOPs, and the VSDB will also be
required to submit the “Annual Plan Financial Information Attachment”
(financial attachment), an Excel document, via the Online Management of
Education Grant Awards (OMEGA) System. The
financial attachment includes the “Proposed Grant Budget” forms for Sections
611 and 619 funding. These forms will be submitted as part of the application
for federal funds, but must also be submitted electronically via OMEGA. However, before the financial attachment may
be submitted in OMEGA, an “OMEGA User Permission Form OP1,” (OP1 form) must be
on file with the Department of Education’s Accounting Department to establish
user access. Instructions for completing
the OP1 form and online training opportunities are available at www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/omega. Unless previously completed, please mail a
completed OP1 form for each individual in the LEA’s
approval queue to the following address no later than April 15, 2009:
Department of Education
Attn: Accounting Department
All required Annual Plan documents, including the
application for federal funds, and instructional information are available
electronically in Word and Portable Document Format (PDF), in the Annual Plan
section of the Office of Dispute Resolution and Administrative Services’ Web site,
at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/dueproc/.
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) to 21, inclusive. Federal clarification has indicated that IDEA
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.
Questions regarding the Annual
Plan process should be directed to
Questions regarding state-operated programs should
be directed to
Questions regarding the
Questions regarding the application for Section 611 flow-through
funding, as well as the “General Assurances and Compliance” section of Part III,
should be addressed to Sherry Hubbard, Sherry.Hubbard@doe.virginia.gov,
financial specialist, at (804) 225-2339.
Questions regarding the application for Section 619 preschool
funding should be addressed to Phyllis Mondak, Phyllis.Mondak@doe.virginia.gov,
special education specialist, at (804) 225-2675.
Questions regarding entering data via OMEGA should
be addressed to Omega Support, at omega.support@doe.virginia.gov.
PIW/mcps