2022 SPP/APR and State Determination Letters PART B — Northern Mariana Islands
OSEP Response to SPP/APR
PDF2022 SPP/APR Submission PART B — Northern Mariana 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
NITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
O
FFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
June 23, 2022
Honorable Alfred Ada
Commissioner of Education
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System
P.O. Box 501370 CK
Saipan , Northern Mariana Islands 96950
Dear Commissioner Ada :
I am writing to advise you of the U. S. Department of Education’s (Department) 2022
determi nation under S ection 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The
Department has determined that the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands needs
assistance in implementing the requirements of Part B of the IDEA. This determination is based
on the totality of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands ’s data and information,
including the Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2020 State Performance Plan/Annual Performance
Report (SPP/APR), other Entity- reported data, and other publicly available information.
With the FFY 2020 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. Specificall y, 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 En tity’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 t he impact of
COVID- 19 on the data reported in the FFY 2020 SPP/APR. When making determination
decisions for 2022, OSEP considered all information submitted that related to the impact of the
COVID- 19 pandemic. For 2022 determinations, as with 2021 determina tions, 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 and compliance data in making determinations for
outlying areas, freely associated States, and the Bu reau of Indian Education (the Entities) in
2022, as it did for determinations in 2021.
1 The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands ’s 2022 determination is based on the data reflected in the Entity’s “2022 Part B Results -
Driven Accountability Matrix” (RDA Matrix). The RDA Matrix is individualized for each Entity
and consists of:
1 For the 2022 determinations, OSEP is using results data on the participation and performance of children with disabilities on the
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Bureau of Indian
Education. Starting in 2022, OSEP is using the NAEP data in making the BIE’s 2022 determination (as indicated in the 2021
determination letters to States and Entities) . OSEP is co nsidering whether to use the available NAEP data in making Puerto
Rico’s 2023 determination.
Page 2—Chief State School Officer
(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 Sco re 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 2022:
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
refle cted in the RDA Matrix for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands . In making
Part B determinations in 2022, OSEP used results data related to:
(1) the participation and performance of CWD on the most recently administered (school
year 2018- 2019) National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP);
2
(2) the percentage of CWD who graduated with a regular high school diploma; and
(3) the percentage of CWD who dropped out.
In 2022, States were required to submit a new SPP/APR for FFYs 2020 through 2025. The 2022
submission of the SPP/APR is the third six -year SPP and includes baseline data and measurable
and rigorous targets for FFY 2020 through FFY 2025 for each indicator in the SPP/APR. OSEP
has reviewed and approved your State’s SPP under IDEA Section 616(b) to include measurable
and rigorous targets for FFY 2025 that reflect improvement over the State’s baseline data. Any
action required by the State is reflected in OSEP’s response.
For the Department’s 2023 determinations, the Department is r eviewing and considering whether
and how to use existing indicators and/or other available data in making its determinations as
part of its continuing effort to prioritize equity and improve results for infants, toddlers and
children with disabilities. In April 2022, the Department released an equity action plan as part of
its efforts to advance racial equity and support underserved communities. Examples of existing
indicators that could be considered and/or be weighted differently include indicators on chi ld
find (for Part C) and/or significant discrepancy and disproportionate representation (for Part B).
We will offer opportunities for input from the public, including parents, agencies that implement
IDEA and other stakeholders, to provide feedback in the coming months, starting with the OSEP
Leadership Conference in July 2022 as well as through email submissions and listening sessions
open to the public.
As noted earlier, for its 2021 and 2022 determinations, the Department did not issue a
determination o f “Needs Intervention” to any State because States’ SPP/APR data collections for
FFY 2019 and FFY 2020 were impacted by COVID -19. OSEP is considering, but has not yet
determined, whether and how a State’s FFY 2021 SPP/APR data collection that was affected by
COVID- 19 will be considered in the Department’s 2023 determinations.
2 This element applies only to the BIE’s determination, and not to other Entities’ determinations. See footnote 1.
Page 3—Chief State School Officer
You may access the results of OSEP’s review of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands
’s 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 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands ’s SPP/APR on the site, you will find, in
applicable Indicators 1 through 17, the OSEP Response to the indicator and any a ctions 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 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 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands ’s RDA Matrix;
(2) the HTDMD document;
(3) a spreadsheet entitled “2022 Data Ru bric Part B,” which shows how OSEP calculated the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands ’s “Timely and Accurate State-Reported
Data” score in the Compliance Matrix; and
(4) a document entitled “Dispute Resolution 2020- 2021,” which includes the IDEA Section
618 data that OSEP used to calculate the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands ’s “Timely State Complaint Decisions” and “Timely Due Process Hearing
Decisions” scores in the Compliance Matrix.
As noted above, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mari ana Islands’s 2022 determination is
Needs Assistance. A State’s or Entity’s 2022 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 Specific Conditions on the State’s or Entity’s last three IDEA Part B grant awards (for
FFYs 2019, 2020, and 2021), and those Specific Conditions are in effect at the time of the 2022
de termination.
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands ’s determination for 2021 was also Needs
Assistance. In accordance with S ection 616(e)(1) of the IDEA and 34 C.F.R. § 300.604(a), if a
State or Entity is determined to need assistance for two con secutive 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 entities;
(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 Specific Conditions on the
State’s or Entity’s IDEA Part B grant award.
Pursuant to these requirements, the Secretary is advising the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands of available sources of technical assistance, including OSEP -funded technical
assistance centers and resources at the following websites: Monitoring and State Improvement
Planning (MSIP) | OSEP Ideas That Work, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Page 4—Chief State School Officer
Topic Areas
, and requiring the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to work with
appropriate entities. In addition, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands should
consider accessing technical assistance from other Department -funded centers such as the
Comprehensive Centers with resources a t the following link:
https://compcenternetwork.org/states . The Secretary directs the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands to determine the results elements and/or compliance indicators, and
impr ovement strategies, on which it will focus its use of available technical assistance, in order
to improve its performance. We strongly encourage the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands to access technical assistance related to those results elemen ts and compliance indicators
for which the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands received a score of zero. The
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands must report with its FFY 2021 SPP/APR
submission, due February 1, 2023, on:
(1) the technical as sistance sources from which the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands received assistance; and
(2) the actions the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands took as a result of that
technical assistance.
As required by IDEA S ection 616(e)(7) and 34 C.F.R. § 300.606, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands 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 notic e to the media and through public agencies.
As a reminder, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 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 Pr ofile 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 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands ’s efforts to improve
results for children and youth with disabilities and looks forward to working with the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands over the next year as we continue our important
work of improving the lives of children wit h 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,
Valerie Williams
Director
Office of Special Education Programs
Page 5—Chief State School Officer
cc: Commonweal
th of the Northern Mariana Islands Director of Special Education
(Grant Year 2020–2021 — Issued June 23, 2022)
How the department made determinations (Entities)
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Last modified on October 6, 2022