2020 SPP/APR and State Determination Letters PART B — Republic of the Marshall Islands

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. 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 Kitlang Kabua Minister of Education, Sports, and Training Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Education, Sports and Training P.O. Box 3 Majuro , Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960 Dear Minister Kabua : 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 the Repu blic of the Marshall Islands meets the requirements and purposes of Part B of the IDEA. This determination is based on the totality of the Republic of the Marshall Islands ’ data and information, including the Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2018 State Performance P lan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), other State - reported data, and other publicly available information. The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is continuing to use both results data and compliance data in making determinations for outlying a reas, freely associated States and the Bureau of Indian Education (the Entities) in 2020, as it did for determinations in 2019. 1 T he Republic of the Marshall Islands ’ 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 incl udes 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. The RDA Matrix is further explained in a document, entitled “How the Depa rtment Made Determinations under Section 616(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 2020 : 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 t hat administer 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 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 Matrix for the Republic of the Marshall Islands . In making Part B determinations in 2020, OSEP used results data related to: (1) the participation of ch ildren 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 the Republic of the Marshall I slands ’ SPP/APR and other 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 acce ss the Republic of the Marshall Islands ’ SPP/APR on the site, you will find, in applicable 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) 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 impor tant 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) the Republic of the Marshall Islands ’ RDA Matrix; (2) the HTDMD document; (3) a spreadsheet entitled “20 20 Data Rubric Part B,” which shows how OSEP calculated the Republic of the Marshall Islands ’ “Timely and Accurate State - Reported Data” score in the Compliance Matrix; and (4) a document entitl ed “Dispute Resolution 2018 - 2019,” which includes the IDEA section 618 data that OSEP used to calculate the Republic of the Marshall Islands ’ “Timely State Complaint Decisions” and “Timely Due Process Hearing Decisions” scores in the Compliance Matrix. As not ed above, the Republic of the Marshall Islands ’ 2020 determination is Meets Requirements. A State or Entity’s 2020 RDA Determination is Meets Requirements if the RDA Percentage is at least 80%, unless 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 determination. States and Entities were required to submit Phase III Year Four of the SSIP b y April 1, 2020. OSEP appreciates the Republic of the Marshall Islands ’ ongoing work on its SSIP and its efforts to improve results for students with disabilities. We have c arefully reviewed and responded to your submission and will provide additional feedbac k in the upcoming weeks. Additionally, Page 3 — Chief State School Officer OSEP will continue to work with your Entity as it implements the fifth year of Phase III of the SSIP , which is due on April 1, 20 21 . As a reminder , the Republic of the Marshall Is lands must make its SPP/APR available to the public by posting it on its agency’s website. Within the upcoming weeks, OSEP will be finalizing an Entity Profile that: (1) includes the Entity’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. OSEP appreciates the Republic of the Marshall Islands ’ efforts to improve results for children and youth with disabilities and looks forward to working with the Republic of the 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 the Marshall Islands Dire ctor of Special Education