2020 SPP/APR and State Determination Letters PART B – American Samoa
OSEP Response to SPP/APR
PDF2020 SPP/APR Submission PART B — American Samoa
MS WORDView PDF
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.
U NITED S TATES D EPARTMENT OF E DUCATION
O FFICE OF S PECIAL E DUCATION AND R EHABILITATIVE S ERVICES
June 25, 2020
Honorable Dr. Ruth S. Matagi - Tofiga
Director of Education
American Samoa Department of Education
P.O. Box 2609
Pago Pago , American Samoa 96799
Dear Director Matagi - Tofiga :
I am writing to advise you of the U. S. Department of Education’s (Department) 2020
determination under section 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The
Department has determined that American Samoa needs assistance in implementin g the
requirements of Part B of the IDEA. This determination is based on the totality of American
Samoa ’s data and information, including the Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2018 State Performance
Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), other Entity - reported d ata, and other publicly
available information.
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is continuing to use both results and
compliance data in making determinations for outlying areas, freely associated States, and the
Bureau of Indian Education ( the Entities) in 2020, as it did for determinations in 2019. 1
American Samoa ’s 2020 determination is based on the data reflected in the Entity’s “2020 Part B
Results - Driven Accountability Matrix” (RDA Matrix). 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.
1
OSEP has used results data on the participation and performance of children with disabilities on the National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) in making determinations for States (but not Entities) since 2014. Although t he BIE is the only
E ntity that a dminister s the NAEP , OSEP has not used NAEP data in making the BIE’s determinations because the BIE’s NAEP
data were previously not available. However, given that the BIE’s NAEP data are now available, OSEP is considering using the
NAEP data in making the BIE’s 2021 determination under IDEA section 616(d) .
Page 2 — Chief State School Officer
The RDA Matrix is further explained in a document, entitled “How the Department Made
Determinations under Section 616(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 2020:
Freely Associated States, Outlying Areas, and the Bureau of Indian Education - Pa rt B”
(HTDMD).
The specifics of the determination procedures and criteria are set forth in the HTDMD and
reflected in the RDA Matrix for American Samoa . In making Part B determinations in 2020,
OSEP used results data related to:
(1) the participation of childr en 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.
You may access the results of OSEP’s review of American Samoa ’s SPP/APR and o ther relevant
data by accessing the EMAPS SPP/APR reporting tool using your Entity - specific log - on
information at https://emaps.ed.gov/suite/. When you access American Samoa ’s SPP/APR on the
site, you will find, in applicable Indicators 1 through 16, the O SEP 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) 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 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 Response” and/or “Required Actions” sections.
You will also find all of the following important documents saved as attachments:
(1) American Samoa ’s RDA Matrix;
(2) the HTDMD document;
(3) a spreadsheet entitled “2020 Data Rubric Part B,” which shows how OSEP calculated
American S amoa ’s “Timely and Accurate State - Reported Data” score in the Compliance
Matrix; and
(4) a document entitled “Dispute Resolution 2018 - 2019,” which includes the IDEA section
618 data that OSEP used to calculate American Samoa ’s “Timely State Complaint
Decisions ” and “Timely Due Process Hearing Decisions” scores in the Compliance
Matrix.
As noted above, American Samoa ’s 2020 determination is Needs Assistance. A State’s or Entity’s
2020 RDA Determination is Needs Assistance if the RDA Percentage is at least 60% but less
than 80%. A State ’s or Entity ’s determination 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 FFYs 2017, 2018,
and 2019), and those Specific Conditions are in effect at the time of the 2020 de termination.
American Samoa ’s determination for 2019 was also Needs Assistance. In accordance with
section 616(e)(1) of the IDEA and 34 C.F.R. § 300.604(a), if a State or Entity is determined to
Page 3 — Chief State School Officer
need assistance for two consecutive years, the Secretary must take one or more of the following
actions:
(1) advise the State or Entity of available sources of technical assistance that may help the
State or Entity address the areas in which it needs assistance and require the State or
Entity to work with appropriate e ntities;
(2) direct the use of State or Entity - level funds on the area or areas in which the State or
Entity needs assistance; or
(3) identify the State or Entity as a high - risk grantee and impose Special Conditions on the
State’s or Entity’s IDEA Part B grant a ward.
Pursuant to these requirements, the Secretary is advising American Samoa of available sources of
technical assistance, including OSEP - funded technical assistance centers and resources at the
following website: https://osep.grads360.org/#program/high lighted - resources, and requiring
American Samoa to work with appropriate entities. In addition, American Samoa should consider
accessing technical assistance from other Department - funded centers such as the Comprehensive
Centers with resources at the follo wing link: https://compcenternetwork.org/states . The Secretary
directs American Samoa to determine the results elements and/or compliance indicators, and
improvement strategies, on which it will focus its use of available technical assistance, in order
to improve its performance. We strongly encourage American Samoa to access technical
assistance related to those results elements and compliance indicators for which American Samoa
received a score of zero. American Samoa must report with its FFY 2019 SPP/APR submission,
due February 1, 2021, on:
(1) the technical assistance sources from which American Samoa received assistance; and
(2) the actions American Samoa took as a result of that technical assistance.
As required by IDEA section 616(e)(7) and 34 C.F.R. § 300 .606, American Samoa must notify
the public that the Secretary of Education has taken the above enforcement actions, including, at
a minimum, by posting a public notice on its website and distributing the notice to the media and
through public agencies.
States and Entities were required to submit Phase III Year Four of the SSIP by April 1, 2020.
OSEP appreciates American Samoa ’s ongoing work on its SSIP and its efforts to improve results
for students with disabilities. We have carefully reviewed and respo nded to your submission and
will provide additional feedback in the upcoming weeks. Additionally, OSEP will continue to
work with American Samoa as it implements the fifth year of Phase III of the SSIP, which is due
on April 1, 2021.
As a reminder, American Samoa m ust make its SPP/APR available to the public by posting it on
it’s agency’s web site. Within the upcoming weeks , OSEP will be finalizing a n Entity Profile that:
(1) i ncludes the En t ity ’s determination letter and SPP/APR, OSEP attachments, and all Entity
attachments that are accessible in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973; and
(2) will be accessible to the public via the ed.gov website.
Page 4 — Chief State School Officer
OSEP appreciates Ame rican Samoa ’s efforts to improve results for children and youth with
disabilities and looks forward to working with American Samoa 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: American Samoa Director of Special Educat ion
View File
2020 SPP/APR Submission PART B — American Samoa
State Performance Plan / Annual Performance Report:Part BforSTATE FORMULA GRANT PROGRProvide sufficient detail to ensure that the Secretary and tHow and where the State reported to the public on the FFY17 performance of each LEA lInstructionsSampling is not allowed.Describe the results of the State's examination oFFY20132014201520162017Target >=82.00%83.00%84.00%85.00%86.00%Data90.91%84.09%92.86%100.00%93.33%TargetsFFY20182019Target >=87.00%87.00%Targets: Description of Stakeholder Input Stakeholders provided input on the APR deveDateDescriptionData SY 2017-18 Cohorts for Regulatory Adjusted-Cohort Graduation Rate10/02/2019Number of youth with IEPs graduating with a regular diploma23 SY 2017-18 CoNumber of youth with IEPs eligible to graduate24 SY 2017-18 Regulatory Adjusted Cohor95.83%FFY 2018 SPP/APR DataNumber of youth with IEPs in the current year's adjusted cohort Provide a narrative that describes the conditions youth must meet in order to graduatOPTION 2:Use same data source and measurement that the State used to report in its FFFFY20132014201520162017Target =Overall98.50%98.50%MathA >=Overall98.50%98.50%Targets: Description of Stakeholder Input Stakeholders provided input on the APR deveFFY 2018 Data Disaggregation from EDFactsInclude the disaggregated data in your final29644361647b. IEPs in regular assessment with no accommodations0000c. IEPs in regular23415334f. IEPs in alternate assessment against alternate standards4623462Data Source: SY 2018-19 Assessment Data Groups - Math (EDFacts file spec FS185; Data361647b. IEPs in regular assessment with no accommodations0000c. IEPs in regular asse5329f. IEPs in alternate assessment against alternate standards4623462FFY 2018 SPP/APGroupGroup NameNumber of Children with IEPsNumber of Children with IEPs ParticipatingFFY 2018 SPP/APR Data: Math AssessmentGroupGroup NameNumber of Children with IEPsNumbThe SEA, (or, in the case of a district-wide assessment, LEA) must make available to C. Proficiency rate for children with IEPs against grade level and alternate academicGrade 6Grade 7Grade 8Grade 9Grade 10Grade 11Grade 12HSAOverallXXXXXXXXXXXHistorical Data: Reading GroupGroup NameBaseline FFY20132014201520162017AOverall2014T13.51%Actual7.08%13.51%12.71%12.50%9.88%Historical Data: MathGroup Group NameBaselineTarget >=25.94%16.22%16.72%17.22%17.72%AOverall16.22%Actual25.94%16.22%3.79%8.22%7.652019ReadingA >=Overall15.51%16.01%MathA >=Overall17.72%18.22%Targets: Description of Stakeholder Input Stakeholders provided input on the APR devea. Children with IEPs who received a valid score and a proficiency was assigned2764330c. IEPs in regular assessment with accommodations scored at or above proficient agai0Data Source: SY 2018-19 Assessment Data Groups - Math (EDFacts file spec FS175; Dat26643357631b. IEPs in regular assessment with no accommodations scored at or above pr4600f. IEPs in alternate assessment against alternate standards scored at or above prFFY 2018 SPP/APR Data: Reading AssessmentGroupGroup NameChildren with IEPs who receivFFY 2018 SPP/APR Data: Math AssessmentGroupGroup NameChildren with IEPs who received Regulatory InformationThe SEA, (or, in the case of a district-wide assessment, LEA) mMonitoring Priority: FAPE in the LREResults Indicator: Rates of suspension and expuls20050.00%FFY20132014201520162017Target =87.00%87.50%88.00%88.50%89.00%Data87.16%87.52%87.01%80.32%90.85%TargetsFFY20182019Target >=89.50%89.50%FFY 2018 SPP/APR DataNumber of respondent parents who report schools faciFFY 2017 DataFFY 2018 TargetFFY 2018 DataStatusSlippage41645790.85%89.50%91.03%Met TaWas sampling used? NOWas a survey used? YESIf yes, is it a new or revised survey?NOThe demographics of the parents responding are representative of the demographics of Include the State's analyses of the extent to which the demographics of the parents r8 - Required ActionsIndicator 9: Disproportionate RepresentationInstructions and MeaSelect yes if this indicator is not applicable.YESProvide an explanation of why it isInclude State's definition of disproportionate representation. Please specify in yoInstructions and MeasurementMonitoring Priority: Effective GIf the State reported less than 100% compliance for the previous reporting period (e.FFY20132014201520162017Target 100%100%100%100%100%Data100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%TargetsFFY20182019Target 100%100%FFY 2018 SPP/APR Data(a) Number of children for whom parental consent to evaluateFFY 2018 DataStatusSlippage181181100.00%100%100.00%Met TargetNo SlippageNumber of chiProvide additional information about this indicator (optional)Correction of Findings Correction of Findings of Noncompliance Identified Prior to FFY 2017Year Findings of Findings of Noncompliance Verified as CorrectedFindings Not Yet Verified as Corrected11 - Prior FFY Required ActionsNone11 - OSEP Response11 - Required Actionsicator 12: Early Childhood TransitionIAccount for children included in (a), but not included in b, c, d, e, or f. Indicate FFY20132014201520162017Target100%100%100%100%100%Data100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%TargetsFFY20182019Target 100%100%FFY 2018 SPP/APR Dataa. Number of children who have been served in Part C and refb. Number of those referred determined to be NOT eligible and whose eligibility was dc. Number of those found eligible who have an IEP developed and implemented by their d. Number for whom parent refusals to provide consent caused delays in evaluation or e. Number of children who were referred to Part C less than 90 days before their thirf. Number of children whose parents chose to continue early intervention services beyNumerator(c)Denominator(a-b-d-e-f)FFY 2017 DataFFY 2018 TargetFFY 2018 DataStatusSlippagePercent of children referred by Part C prior to age 3 who American Samoa has a database for collecting Transitioning from Part C to Part B dataCorrection of Findings of Noncompliance Identified Prior to FFY 2017Year Findings of Findings of Noncompliance Verified as CorrectedFindings Not Yet Verified as Corrected12 - Prior FFY Required ActionsNone12 - OSEP Response12 - Required Actionsicator 13: Secondary TransitionInstrucHistorical DataBaseline200998.80%FFY20132014201520162017Target 100%100%100%100%100%Data100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%TargetsFFY20182019Target 100%100%FFY 2018 SPP/APR DataNumber of youth aged 16 and above with IEPs that contain eacFFY 2018 DataStatusSlippage18108100.00%100%100.00%Met TargetNo SlippageWhat is the sProvide additional information about this indicator (optional)Correction of Findings Correction of Findings of Noncompliance Identified Prior to FFY 2017Year Findings of Findings of Noncompliance Verified as CorrectedFindings Not Yet Verified as Corrected13 - Prior FFY Required ActionsNone13 - OSEP Response13 - Required Actionsicator 14: Post-School OutcomesInstrucSamplingof youth who had IEPs and are no longer in secondary schoolis allowed. WhenMeasure C: All youth reported under measures A and B should also be reported under me23.00%24.00%25.00%26.00%A19.0%Data36.36%29.55%15.00%26.67%53.33%B2009Target >=36.00%B33.00%Data58.18%61.36%70.00%60.00%90.00%C2009Target >=51.00%52.00%53.00%54.00%55.00%76.36%86.36%82.50%70.00%96.67%FFY 2018 TargetsFFY20182019Target A >=27.00%28.00%Target B >=41.00%42.00%Target C >=56.00%57.00%Targets: Description of Stakeholder Input Stakeholders provided input on the APR deve1. Number of respondent youth who enrolled in higher education within one year of lea2. Number of respondent youth who competitively employed within one year of leaving h3. Number of respondent youth enrolled in some other postsecondary education or train4. Number of respondent youth who are in some other employment within one year of leaNumber of respondent youthNumber of respondent youth who are no longer in secondary s32453.33%27.00%12.50%Did Not Meet TargetSlippageB. Enrolled in higher education or coPartReasons for slippage, if applicableAVery few students with disabilities exit school on an annual basis. The slippage reprNOWas a survey used? YESIf yes, is it a new or revised survey?NOInclude the State's analyses of the extent to which the response data are representatProvide additional information about this indicator (optional)14 - Prior FFY Required SessionsInstructions and MeasurementMonitoring Priority: EfSourceDateDescriptionDataSY 2018-19 EMAPS IDEA Part B Dispute Resolution Survey; Section C: Due Process ComplaSY 2018-19 EMAPS IDEA Part B Dispute Resolution Survey; Section C: Due Process Compla0Select yes if the data reported in this indicator are not the same as the State's daAmerican Samoa is not required to establish baseline or targets because the number ofFFY20132014201520162017Target >=DataTargetsFFY20182019Target >=FFY 2018 SPP/APR Data3.1(a) Number resolutions sessions resolved through settlement aNone15 - OSEP ResponseAmerican Samoa reported fewer than ten resolution sessions heldSelect yes to use target rangesTarget Range not usedPrepopulated DataSourceDateDescriSY 2018-19 EMAPS IDEA Part B Dispute Resolution Survey; Section B: Mediation Requests0SY 2018-19 EMAPS IDEA Part B Dispute Resolution Survey; Section B: Mediation Request2.1.a.i Mediations agreements related to due process complaints0SY 2018-19 EMAPS IDEA11/11/20192.1.b.i Mediations agreements not related to due process complaints0Select yes if the data reported in this indicator are not the same as the State's datFFY20132014201520162017Target >=DataTargetsFFY20182019Target >=FFY 2018 SPP/APR Data2.1.a.i Mediation agreements related to due process complaints2.1.b.i Mediation agreements not related to due process complaints2.1 Number of media16 - OSEP ResponseAmerican Samoa reported fewer than ten mediations held in FFY 2018.teresa. atuatasi@doe.asPhone:684-633-1323/4789Submitted on:04/30/20 7:51:14 PM ED A55Part B
(Grant Year 2018-2019—Issued June 25, 2020)
How the department made determinations (Entities)
idea_file-template-default single single-idea_file postid-80668 wp-custom-logo wp-embed-responsive with-font-selector no-anchor-scroll footer-on-bottom animate-body-popup social-brand-colors hide-focus-outline link-style-standard has-sidebar content-title-style-normal content-width-normal content-style-boxed content-vertical-padding-show non-transparent-header mobile-non-transparent-header kadence-elementor-colors elementor-default elementor-kit-82278
Last modified on September 17, 2020