2017 SPP/APR and State Determination Letters PART B – Republic of the Marshall Islands
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OSEP Response to SPP/APR
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OSEP Response to SPP/APR
400 MARYLAND AVE. S.W., WASHINGTON DC 20202-2600
www.ed.gov
The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achie vement and preparation for global competitiveness by
fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
U
NITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
O
FFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
J une 28, 2017
Wilbur Heine
Minister of Education
Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Education
PO Box 3
Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands 96960
Dear Minister Heine :
I am writing to advise you of the U. S. Department of Education's (Department) 2017
determination under section 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA ). The
Department has determined that The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) meets the
requirements and purposes of Part B of the IDEA . This determination is based on the totality of
the State’s data and information, including the Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2015 State Performance
Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP /APR), other State-reported data, and other publicly
available information.
RMI’s 2017 determination is based on the data reflected in RMI’s “Part B Compliance Matrix –
2017” (Compliance Matrix). The Compliance Matrix is further explained in a document, e ntitled
“ How the Department Made Determinations under Section 616(d) of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act Part B in 2017 -- Entities with Determinations Based on Compliance”
(HTDMD Compliance Only).
Although OSEP is continuing to use both r esults data and compliance data in making
determinations in 2017 for other States, the Department is continuing to use only compliance
data when making 2017 determinations for the following entities: American Samoa, the Bureau
of Indian Education, the Comm onwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States
of Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Virgin
Islands. Therefore, the Department is using the criteria set forth in the HTDMD Compliance
Only, which are similar to the criteria the Department used to make determinations for these
entities in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. In making Part B determinations in 2017 for other States,
OSEP used results data related to the participation of children with di sabilities (CWD) on regular
Statewide assessments, the participation and performance of CWD on the National Assessmen t
of Educational Progress , and exiting data on CWD who dropped out and CWD who graduated
with a regular high school diploma, as reported by States under section 618 of the IDEA. T he
entities have results data available for some, but not all , of these Results Elements.
T he Department is considering using both compliance and results data for the entities’ 2018
determinations . Section 616(a)(2) of the IDEA requires that the primary focus of IDEA
monitoring must be on improving educational results and functional outcomes for all children
with disabilities, and ensuring that States meet the IDEA program requirements , with a particular
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emphasis on those requirements that are most closely related to improving educational results for
children with disabilities. We believe that taking this more balanced approach, using both
compliance and available results data, is consistent with th is statutory provision and will allow
entities to better focus on improving results for children with disabilities who they serve. As we
consider using results data in determinations, OSEP will provide the entities with an opportunity
to comment and provide input on how we should use results data when making determinations in
2018 under IDEA section 616.
You may access the results of OSEP’s review of RMI’s SPP/APR and other relevant data by
accessing the SPP/APR module using your entity -specific log -on information at
osep.grads360.org. When you access RMI’s SPP/APR on the site, you will find, in Indicators 1
through 16, the OSEP Response to the indicator and any actions that the entity is required to
take. The actions that the entity is required to take are in two places:
(1) a ctions related to the correction of findings of noncompliance are in the “OSEP
Response” section of the indicator; and
(2) any other actions that RMI is required to take are in the “Required Actions” section of the
indicator.
It is important for you to revie w the Introduction to the SPP/APR, which may also include
language in the “OSEP R esponse” and/or “ Required Actions ” sections.
You will also find all of the following important documents saved as attachments to the Progress
Page:
(1) RMI’s Compliance M atrix;
(2) the HTDMD Compliance Only document;
(3) a spreadsheet entitled “201 7 Data Rubric Part B,” which shows how OSEP calculated
RMI’s “ Timely and Accurate State- Reported Data” score in the Compliance Matrix;
(4) a document entitled “Dispute Resolution 2015- 16,” which includes the IDEA section 618
data that OSEP used to calculate the entity’s “Timely State Complaint Decisions” and
“Timely Due Process Hearing Decisions” scores in the Compliance Matrix; and
(5) a Data Display, which presents certain entity -reported data in a transparent, user -friendly
manner and is helpful for the public in getting a broader picture of RMI’s performance in
key areas.
As noted above, RMI’s 2017 determination is Meets Requirements. The 2017 determination for
an entity whose determination is based on the Compliance Matrix is Meets Requirements if the
Compliance Matrix percentage was at least 90%, unless the Department imposed Special
Conditions on the State’s last three (FFYs 2014, 2015, and 2016) IDEA Part B grant awards, and
those Special Con ditions are in effect at the time of the Department’s 2017 determination.
States were required to submit Phase I II of the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) by April
1, 2017. OSEP appreciates RMI’s ongoing work on its SSIP and its efforts to improve results for
students with disabilities. We have carefully reviewed your submission and will provide
feedback in the upcoming weeks. Additionally, OSEP will continue to work with your entity as it
implements the second year of Phase III of the SSIP, which i s due on April 3, 2018.
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Further, RMI must make its SPP/APR available to the public by posting it on the State
educational agency’s website. Within the next several days, OSEP will be finalizing a State
Profile for your entity that:
(1) will be accessible to the public;
(2) includes the entity’s determination letter and SPP/APR, and all related entity and OSEP
attachments; and
(3) can be accessed via a URL unique to your entity, which you can use to make your
SPP/APR available to the public.
We will provide you wit h the unique URL when it is live.
OSEP appreciates RMI’s efforts to improve results for children and youth with disabilities and
looks forward to working with your entity over the next year as we continue our important work
of improving the lives of children with disabilities and their families. Please contact your OSEP
State Lead i f you have any questions, would like to discuss this further, or want to request
technical assistance.
Sincerely,
/s/ Ruth E. Ryder
Ruth E. Ryder
Acting Director
Office of Special Education Pro grams
cc: Director of Special Education
(Grant Year 2015-2016—Issued June 28, 2017) Contact the Partner Support Center at EDEN-Submission-System@ed.gov or 877-HLP-EDEN (877-457-3336) for state profile.
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Last modified on July 6, 2017