2017 SPP/APR and State Determination Letters PART C – California
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 achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by
fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
June 29, 2017
Honorable Nancy Bargmann
Director
California Department of Developmental Services
1600 9th Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Dear Director Bargmann :
I am writing to advise you of the U.S. Department of Education's (Department) 2017 determination
under sections 616 and 642 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA ). The
Department has determined that California needs intervention in implementing the requirements of
Part C 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.
Your State’s 2017 determination is based on the data reflected in the State’s “ 2017 Part C Results-
Driven Accountability Matrix” (RDA Matrix) . The RDA Matrix is individualized for each State and
consists of:
(1) a Compliance Matrix that includes scoring on Compliance Indicators and other compliance
factors ;
(2) Results Components and Appendices that include scoring on Results Elements;
(3) a Compliance Score and a Result s Score;
(4) an RDA Percentage based on both the Compliance Score and the Results Score; and
(5) the State’s Determination.
The RDA Matrix is further explained in a document, entitled “How the Department Made
Determinations under Sections 616(d) and 642 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in
2017: Part C ” (HTDMD).
OSEP is continuing to use both results data and compliance data in making determinations in 2017,
as it did for Part C determinations in 2015 and 2016. (The specifics of the determination procedures
and criteria are set forth in the HTDMD and reflected in the RDA Matrix for your State.) For 2017,
the Department’s IDEA Part C determinations continue to include consideration of each State’s
Child Outcomes data, which measures how children who receive IDEA Part C services are
improving functioning in three outcome areas that are critical to school readiness:
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• Positive social- emotional skills;
• acquisition and use of knowledge and skills (including early language/communication); and
• use of appropriate behaviors to meet their needs .
Specifically, the Department considered the data quality and the child performance levels in each
State’s Child Outcomes FFY 2015 data.
You may access the results of OSEP’s review of your State’s SPP/APR and other relevant data by
accessing the SPP/APR module using your State-specific log -on information at osep.grads360.org.
When you access your State’s SPP/APR on the site, you will find, in Indicators 1 through 10, the
OSEP Response to the indicator and any actions that the State is required to take. The actions that
the State is required to take are in two places:
(1) actions related to the correction of findings of noncompliance are in the “ OSEP Response”
section of the indicator; and
(2) any other actions that the State is required to take are in the “Required Actions” section of
the indicator.
It is important for you to review 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) the State’s RDA Matrix;
(2) the HTDMD document;
(3) a spreadsheet entitled “2017 Data Rubric Part C ,” which shows how OSEP calculated the
State’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 State’s “Timely State Complaint Decisions ” and
“ Timely Due Process Hearing Decisions ” sco res in the Compliance Matrix; and
(5) a Data Display, which presents certain State- reported data in a transparent, user-friendly
manner and is helpful for the public in getting a broader picture of State performance in key
areas.
As noted above and further e xplained in the enclosures to this letter, the Department has determined
that California needs intervention in implementing the requirements of Part C of the IDEA. The
Department identifies a State as needing intervention under IDEA Part C if its RDA Perce ntage is
less than 60%. California ’s RDA Percentage is 56.25%.
Pursuant to sections 616(d)(2)(B) and 642 of the IDEA and 34 CFR §303.7 03(b)(2), a State that is
determined to “need intervention” or “need substantial intervention,” and does not agree with t his
determination, may request an opportunity to meet with the Assistant Secretary to demonstrate why
the Department should change the State’s determination. To request a hearing, submit a letter to
Kimberly M. Richey, Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202 within 15
days of the date of this letter. The letter must include the basis for your request for a change in the
State’s determination.
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States were required to submit Phase II I of the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) by April 3,
2017. OSEP appreciates the State’s ongoing work on its SSIP and its efforts to improve results for
infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families . We have carefully reviewed your
submission and will provide feedback in the upcoming weeks. Additionally, OSEP will continue to
work with your State as it implements the second year of Phase III of the SSIP, which is due on
April 2, 2018.
As a reminder, your State must report annually to the public, by posting on the State lead agency’s
website, on the performance of each early intervention service (EIS) program located in the State on
the targets in the SPP /APR as soon as practicable, but no later than 120 days after the State’s
submission of its FFY 2015 SPP/APR. In addition, your State must:
(1) review EIS program performance against targets in the State’s SPP/APR;
(2) determine if each EIS program “meets the requirements” of Part C, or “needs assistance,”
“n eeds intervention,” or “needs substantial intervention” in implementing Part C of the
IDEA ;
(3) take appropriate enforcement action; and
(4) inform each EIS program of its determination.
Further, your State must make its SPP/APR available to the public by posti ng it on the State lead
agency’s website. Within the next several days, OSEP will be finalizing a State Profile that:
(1) will be accessible to the public;
(2) includes the State’s determination letter and SPP/APR, and all related State and OSEP
attachments; and
(3) can be accessed via a URL unique to your State, which you can use to make your SPP/APR
available to the public .
We will provide you with the unique URL when it is live.
OSEP appreciates the State’s efforts to improve results for infants and toddlers wi th disabilities and
their families and looks forward to working with your State 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 Programs
cc: State Part C Coordinator
(Grant Year 2015-2016—Issued June 29, 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