2021 SPP/APR and State Determination Letters PART B – Republic of the Marshall Islands
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OSEP Response to SPP/APR
PDF2021 SPP/APR Submission PART B – Republic of the Marshall Islands
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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. U
NITE D STATE S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
O FFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
June 24, 2021
Honora ble 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
Dea r Minister Kabua:
I am writing to advise you of the U.S. Department of Education's (Department) 2021
determination under section 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The
Department has determined that the Republic 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) 2019 State
Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), other State-reported data, and other
publicly available information.
With the FFY 2019 SPP/APR submission, the Office of Special Education Programs ( OSEP)
requested that States and Entities report whether and how the data collection for any indicator
was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, OSEP requested that States and Entities
include in the narrative for each impacted indicator: (1) the impact on data completeness,
validity, and/or reliability for the indicator; (2) an explanation of how COVID-19 specifically
impacted the State’s or Entity’s ability to collect and verify the data for the indicator; and (3) any
steps the State or Entity took to mitigate the impact of COVID- 19 on the data collection and
verification. OSEP appreciates States’ and Entities’ level of transparency regarding the impact of
COVID-19 on the data reported in the FFY 2019 SPP/APR. When making deter
mination
decisions for 2021, OSEP considered all information submitted that related to the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic. For 2021 determinations, no State or Entity received a determination of
“Needs Intervention” due solely to data impacted by COVID-19.
OSEP is continuing to use both results data and compliance data in making determinations for
outlying areas, freely associated States and the Bureau of Indian Education (the Entities) in 2021,
as it did for determinations in 2020. 1
The Republic of the Marshall Islands’ 2021 determination
is based on the data reflected in the 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 2022 determination under IDEA
section 616(d) .
Page 2— Chief State School Officer
Entit y’s “2021 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.
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 2021:
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 2021, OSEP used results data related to:
(1) the percentage of CWD who graduated with a regular high school diploma; a nd
(2) the percentage of CWD who dropped out.
You may access the results of OSEP’s review of the Republic of the Marshall Islands ’ 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 access 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 the “Required Actions” section of the indicator.
It is important for you to review the Introduction to the SPP/APR, which may also includ e
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 “2021 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 entitled “Dispute Resolution 2019 -2020,” which includes the IDEA section
618 data t hat 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 noted above, the Republic of the Marshall Islands ’ 2021 determination is Meets
Requ irements. A State or Entity’s 2021 RDA Determination is Meets Requirements if the RDA
Percentage is at least 80%, unless the Department has imposed Specific Conditions on the State’s
Page 3— Chief State School Officer
or Entity’s last three IDEA Part B grant awards (for FFYs 2018, 2019, and 2020), and those
Specific Conditions are in effect at the time of the 2021 determination.
States and Entities were required to submit Phase III Year Five of the SSIP by April 1, 2021.
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 carefully reviewed and responded to
your submission and will provide additional feedback in the upcoming weeks. Additionally,
OSEP will continue to provide technical assistanc e to the Republic of the Marshall Islands as it
implements the SSIP , which is due on February 1, 2022.
As a reminder , the Republic of the Marshall Islands 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 E ntity’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 Rep ublic 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,
David Cantrell, PhD
Acting Director
Office of Special Education Programs
cc: Republic of the Marshall Islands Director of Special Education
(Grant Year 2019–2020 — Issued June 24, 2021)
How the department made determinations
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Last modified on August 10, 2021