Hello, Stakeholders.

As we anticipate 2021, it is important to acknowledge the impact of 2020’s realities. National social unrest and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have taken their toll on the populations we serve. However, because of your extraordinary efforts, we have met and tackled the challenges head on. Infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities, and their families have been supported through increased communication, collaboration, resource development, dissemination, and use of innovative practices.

One key to continued progress in the face of adversity, is the presence of effective personnel. As such, OSEP continues its focus on attracting, preparing, and retaining effective personnel. We have collected information, data, and research on the impact of the personnel shortage issue. Now it is time for implementation and capacity building across the nation of the identified practices that we know are making a difference. To jumpstart this phase of the work, OSEP convened five focus groups with key stakeholders in December to identify critical components for success that will be included in a strong implementation plan. OSEP will convene an additional focus group in January. Your voices and the practices you have identified have been invaluable as OSEP plans for the next phases.

During my time in OSEP we collaborated to write the newest chapter in OSEP’s history book. You all are named in that chapter, acknowledged for your work and most importantly the impact and imprint you are leaving during this historic time. We will be able to look back and say we weathered that storm and we made a difference. What a difference we have made! Let us move into 2021 with the same passion and commitment with which we are ending 2020. There will always be more work to accomplish and more needs to fill. OSEP is here to partner with you in this effort!

A special thank you to the teachers, providers, administrators, all school personnel for your hard work, commitment, and dedication to providing quality instruction, and social, emotional, and behavioral support for ALL children and parents within your systems.

As you go into the holiday season, rest, relax, enjoy family and friends, and most importantly stay safe and stay healthy!

Happy Holidays!

Laurie

Catalog of Department Resources

Check the Department's COVID-19 Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel web page for additional information and resources.

IDEA Topics in the Current COVID-19 Environment

IDEA topics in the Current COVID-19 Environment

• IDEA Part B Use of Funds
• IDEA Part C Use of Funds
• IDEA Part B Procedural Safeguards
• IDEA Part C Procedural Safeguards
• IDEA Part B Dispute Resolution
• IDEA Part C Dispute Resolution
• IDEA Part C Evaluation and Assessment Timelines
• Flexibility in Implementation of IDEA Part B Fiscal Requirements
• RSA COVID-19 Questions & Answers: Administration of the VR Services, AIVRS, and Randolph-Sheppard Programs
• RSA COVID-19 Questions & Answers: Fiscal Management of the VR Program
• State VR Services and AIVRS programs under the Rehabilitation Act, and Business Enterprise programs under the Randolph-Sheppard Act
• IDEA Part B Provision of Services
• IDEA Part C Provision of Services

You can also find these and other resources on the IDEA COVID-19 page.

CDC Guidance for Child Care, Schools, and Youth Programs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains a web page that provides information for child care, schools, and youth programs to plan, prepare, and respond to COVID-19. Topics include:

• If you're open
• Deciding to open
• Ongoing mitigation strategy
• Prevention and support
• Communication resources

Did You Know?

In FFY 2018, states’ FFY 2018 graduation rate targets for Indicator B1 on the State Performance Plan/ Annual Progress Report (SPP/ APR) ranged from 34.00% to 100.00%. The average state target was 74.25%; the median target was 77.80% and the standard deviation was 15.02%.

OSEP Releases Fast Facts on Asian, Hispanic and/or Latino Children with Disabilities

OSEP is excited to release two new Fast Facts that take a closer look at our IDEA 618 data on race and ethnicity.

For our Asian Children with Disabilities and Hispanic and/or Latino Children with Disabilities Fast Facts we present data from the data collectihttps://sites.ed.gov/idea/osep-fast-facts-highlight-asian-hispanic-latino-children-disabilities/ons authorized under IDEA Section 618 including that collected through child count, educational environments, discipline and exiting data collections.

Infographics’ Highlights

• In 2018, Hispanic and/or Latino children comprised 27.18% of the population of students ages 6–21 served under IDEA, Part B. California, Texas, Florida and New York served more than 50% of all the Hispanic and/or Latino students across the country.
• In 2018, Asian children comprised 2.49% of the population of students ages 6–21 served under IDEA, Part B.
• Between SY 2009–10 and 2018–19, the percentage of Hispanic and/or Latino Students with Disabilities served under IDEA, part B increased from 21.76% to 27.18%.
• In school year 2018–19, Hispanic and/or Latino students were more likely to be identified with specific learning disability and less likely to be identified with other health impairment than all students with disabilities.
• In school year 2018–19, Asian students are more likely to be identified with a speech or language impairment and Autism and less likely to be identified with specific learning disability than all students with disabilities.
• In school year 2017–18, Asian children with disabilities, ages 14–21, exiting school were more likely to graduate and less likely to drop out than all students with disabilities.

OSEP recently released two other Fast Facts on race and ethnicity, American Indian or Alaska Native Children with Disabilities and Black or African American Children with Disabilities. Together, these Fast Facts represent four of the seven Federal race/ethnicity reporting categories used under IDEA.

OSEP Fast Facts is an ongoing effort to display data from the 12 data collections authorized under IDEA Section 618 into graphic, visual representations with the intent to present 618 data quickly and clearly.

Visit the OSEP Fast Facts page for existing and future Fast Facts.