2019 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 achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by
fostering educational excellence and ensuring equ al access.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
June 20 , 2019
Honorable Wilbur Heine
Minister of Education
Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Education
P.O. Box 3
Majuro , MH 96960
Dear Minister Heine :
I am writing to advise you of the U. S. Department of Education’s (Department) 2019
determination under section 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The
Department has determined that Republic of Marshall Islands needs assistance in implementi ng
the requirements of Part B of the IDEA. This determination is based on the totality of Republic
of Marshall Islands ’ data and information, including the Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2017 State
Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), other En tity -reported data, and other
publicly available information.
Protecting the rights of children with disabilities and their families is a key responsibility of
States, but it is not sufficient if children are not attaining the knowledge and skills necessar y to
achieve the goals of IDEA as reflected in Congressional findings in section 601(c)(1) of the
IDEA: equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self -
sufficiency. To address this concern, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has been
using results data when making annual determinations for States under IDEA section 616(d)
since 2014. OSEP is continuing to use both results and compliance data in making
determinations for outlying areas, freely associated State s, and the Bureau of Indian Education
(the Entities) in 2019, as it did for determinations in 2018.
Republic of Marshall Islands ’s 2019 determination is based on the data reflected in the Entity’s
“2019 Part B Results -Driven Accountability Matrix” (RDA Ma trix). The RDA Matrix is
individualized for each Entity and consists of:
(1) a Compliance Matrix that includes scoring on Compliance Indicators and other
compliance factors;
(2) a Results Matrix that includes scoring on Results Elements;
(3) a Compliance Score and a Results Score;
(4) an RDA Percentage based on both the Compliance Score and the Results Score; and
(5) the Entity’s Determination.
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The RDA Matrix is further explained in a document, entitled “How the Department Made
Determinations under Section 616(d) of the Ind ividuals with Disabilities Education Act in 2019:
Freely Associated States, Outlying Areas, and the Bureau of Indian Education -Part B”
(HTDMD).
The specifics of the determination procedures and criteria are set forth in the HTDMD and
reflected in the RDA M atrix for Republic of Marshall Islands . In making Part B determinations
in 2019, OSEP used results data related to:
(1) the participation of children with disabilities (CWD) on regular Statewide assessments;
(2) the percentage of CWD who graduated with a regular high school diploma; and
(3) the percentage of CWD who dropped out.
The Secretary is considering modifying the factors the Department will use in making its
determinations in June 2020 as part of its continuing emphasis on results for children with
disabilit ies. 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 an emphasis on
those requirements that are most closely related to improving educational results for children
with disabilities.
The proposed Part B determinations process will include the same compliance factors as in past
years, with one addition. For the 2020 determinations, rather than weighting each compliance
factor equally, OSEP is considering assigning greater weight to thos e compliance factors most
directly related to improving results for children with disabilities. For the 2020 determinations
process we are also considering, as two additional results factors, State -reported data on:
preschool child outcomes and the State S ystemic Improvement Plan (SSIP). Using preschool
outcomes for Part B determinations is consistent with the use of the early childhood outcomes
factor that has been used for Part C determinations since 2015. Use of this factor emphasizes the
importance of p reschool outcomes in promoting later school success for students with
disabilities. The inclusion of the SSIP as a results factor in making determinations would
continue OSEP’s emphasis on incorporating a results -driven approach as States identify
evidence -based practices that lead to improved outcomes for children and youth with disabilities.
In addition, we are considering several changes to the results factors related to the participation
and performance of children with disabilities on assessments, incl uding: (1) using Statewide
assessment results, rather than the National Assessment of Educational Progress performance
data; (2) looking at year -to-year improvements in Statewide assessment results and taking into
account the full Statewide assessment syst em, including alternate assessments; and (3) no longer
comparing each State’s assessment performance with that of other States. Finally, OSEP will be
revisiting ways of measuring improvement in the graduation rate of students with disabilities. As
we consi der changes to how we use the data under these factors in making the Department’s
2020 determinations, OSEP will provide parents, States, entities, LEAs, and other stakeholders
with an opportunity to comment and provide input through OSEP’s Leadership Conf erence in
July 2019 and other meetings.
You may access the results of OSEP’s review of Republic of Marshall Islands ’s SPP/APR and
other relevant data by accessing the SPP/APR module using your Entity -specific log -on
information at https://osep.grads360.org . When you access your Entity’s SPP/APR on the site,
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you will find, in applicable Indicators 1 through 16, the OSEP Response to the indicator and any
actions that the Entity is requir ed to take. The actions that the Entity 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 Entity is required to take a re 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 Response” and/or “Required Actions” sections.
You will also find all of the following i mportant documents saved as attachments to the Progress
Page:
(1) Republic of Marshall Islands ’s RDA Matrix;
(2) the HTDMD document;
(3) a spreadsheet entitled “2019 Data Rubric Part B,” which shows how OSEP calculated
Republic of Marshall Islands ’ “Timely and Acc urate State -Reported Data” score in the
Compliance Matrix; and
(4) a document entitled “Dispute Resolution 2017 -18,” which includes the IDEA section 618
data that OSEP used to calculate Republic of Marshall Islands ’ “Timely State Complaint
Decisions” and “Tim ely Due Process Hearing Decisions” scores in the Compliance
Matrix.
As noted above, Republic of Marshall Islands ’ 2019 determination is Needs Assistance. A
State’s or Entity’s 2019 RDA Determination is Needs Assistance if the RDA Percentage is at
least 6 0% but less than 80%. A State or Entity would also be Needs Assistance if its RDA
Determination percentage is 80% or above but the Department has imposed Special or Specific
Conditions on the State’s or Entity’s last three IDEA Part B grant awards (for FFY s 2016, 2017,
and 2018), and those Specific Conditions are in effect at the time of the 2019 determination.
States and Entities were required to submit Phase III Year Three of the SSIP by April 1, 2019.
OSEP appreciates Republic of Marshall Islands ’ ongoi ng 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
Republic of Marshall Islands as it implements the fourth year of Phase III of the SSIP, which is
due on April 1, 2020.
As a reminder, Republic of Marshall Islands must make its SPP/APR available to the public by
posting it on its agency’s website. Within the next several days, OSEP wil l be finalizing an
Entity Profile 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
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(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 with the unique URL when it is
live.
OSEP appreciates Republic of Marshall Islands ’ efforts to improve results for children and youth
with disabilities and looks forward to working with Republic of Marshall Islands 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 if you have any questions, would like to
discuss this further, or want to request technical assistance.
Sincerely,
Laurie VanderPloeg
Director
Office of Special Education Programs
cc: Republic of Marshall Islands Director of Special Education
(Grant Year 2017–2018 — Issued June 20, 2019)
Some historical APRs can be found on the GRADS360 website Public Domain Clearinghouse for APRs. To find available APRs, filter by the state you want to find and then filter by the year. If you cannot find the APR you are looking for, contact the Partner Support Center at EDEN-Submission-System@ed.gov.
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