2023 SPP/APR and State Determination Letters, Part C — Mississippi
2023 SPP/APR and State Determination Letters, Part C — Mississippi
PDF2023 SPP/APR Submission, Part C — Mississippi
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2023 SPP/APR and State Determination Letters, Part C — Mississippi
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 21, 2023
Honorable Daniel P. Edney
State Health Officer
Mississippi State Department of Health
570 East Woodrow Wilson, P.O. Box 1700
Jackson , MS 39215
Dear D r. Edney:
I am writing to advise you of the U.S. Department of Education’s (Department) 2023
determ ination under Section 616 and 642 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA). The Department has determined that Mississippi needs intervention in implementing the
requirements of Part C of the IDEA. This determination is based on the totali ty of the State’s data
and information, including the Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2021 State Performance Plan/Annual
Performance Report (SPP/APR), other State -reported data, and other publicly available
information.
Your State’s 2031 determination is based on the data reflected in the State’s “202 3 Part C
Results -Driven Accountability Matrix” (RDA Matrix). The RDA Matrix is individualized for
each State 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 State’s Determination.
The RDA Matrix is further explained in a document, entitled “ How the Department Made
Determinations under Sections 616(d) and 642 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
in 2023: Part C” (HTDMD).
OSEP is continuing to use both results data and compliance data in making determinations in
2023, as it did for Part C determinations in 2015-2022. (The specifics of the determination
procedures and criteria are set forth in the HTDMD document and reflected in the RDA Matrix
for your State.) For 2023, the Department’s IDEA Part C determinations continue to include
consideration of each State’s Child Outcomes data, which measures how children who receive
IDE A Part C services are improving functioning in three outcome areas that are critical to school
readiness:
• positive social- emotional skills;
• acquisition and use of knowledge and skills (including early language/communication);
and
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• use of appropriate behaviors to me et their needs.
Specifically, the Department considered the data quality and the child performance levels in each
State’s Child Outcomes FFY 20 21 data.
Prior to issuing the 2023 determinations, the Department asked stakeholders for input regarding
how the Department might prioritize equity and improve results for infants, toddlers and children
with disabilities. OSEP received input through a variety of sources. For its 2023 determinations,
OSEP has factored only programmatic (not Department-wide) specific conditions when scoring
the Longstanding Noncompliance element of the Compliance Matrix.
For 2024 and beyond, the Department is considering the weight of existing as well as potential
additional factors in making its determinations as part of its continuing effort to prioritize equity
and improve results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. Potential additional
factors include how the Department considers assessment data, such as whether to cont inue
including data on the participation and proficiency of CWD on the NAEP and/or whether to
include data on the proficiency of CWD on Statewide assessments. Other potential factors
in clude whether and how to consider child find under Indicators C-5 and C-6 and/or other
longstanding noncompliance ( such as unresolved findings issued by OSEP during and prior to
FFY 2020).
The 2022-23 IDEA Section 618 Part C data will continue to prepopulate the Part C SPP/APR
Indicators 2, 5, 6, 9, and 10 as they have in the past. However, please note that there will be
changes to the data submission and data quality processes associated with the 2022-23 IDEA
Section 618 Part C data under EDFacts Modernization. Under EDFacts Modernization, States are
expected to submit high quality IDEA Section 618 Part C data that can be published and used by
the Department as of the due date for the applicable IDEA Section 618 data submission. Though
the 2022-23 Part C Child Count and Settings, Part C Exiting, and Part C Dispute Resolution data
will continue to be submitted via EMAPS, States will be expected to conduct data quality
reviews prior to the applicable due date. OSEP will expect States to take one of the following
two actions for all business rules that are triggered in the EMAPS system prior to the applicable
due date: 1) revise the data entered into the 618 data collection in EMAPS to address the edit; or
2) provide a data note addressing why the data submission triggered the edit. There will not be a
resubmission period for the IDEA Section 618 Part C data. The 2022-23 IDEA Section 618 Part
C data submitted as of the due date will be used for the FFY 2022 SPP/APR and the 2024 IDEA
Part C Results Matrix.
You may access the results of OSEP’s review of your State’s SPP/APR and other relevant data
by accessing the EMAPS SPP/APR reporting tool using your State- specific log-on information at
https://emaps.ed.gov/suite/
. When you access your State’s SPP/APR on the site, you will find, in
Indicators 1 through 11, the OSEP Response to the indicator and any actions that the State is
required to take. The actions that the State is required to take are in the “Required Actions”
sectio n 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 attachm ents:
(1) the State’s RDA Matrix;
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(2) the HTDMD document;
(3) a spreadsheet entitled “202 3 Data Rubric Part C,” which shows how OSEP calculated the
State’s “Timely and Accurate State- Reported Data” score in the Compliance Matrix; and
(4) a document entitled “Dispute R esolution 2021-2022,” which includes the IDEA Section
618 data that OSEP used to calculate the State’s “Timely State Complaint Decisions” and
“Timely Due Process Hearing Decisions” scores in the Compliance Matrix; and
(5) a Data Display, which presents certain State-reported data in a transparent, user -friendly
manner and is helpful for the public in getting a broader picture of State performance in
key areas.
As noted above, the Department has determined that Mississippi needs intervention in
implementing the requirements of Part C of IDEA. The Department identifies a State as needing
intervention under IDEA Part C if its RDA Percentage is less than 60%. Mississippi R DA
Percentage is 53.57%.
As noted above, the Department has determined that Mi ssissippi needs intervention in
implementing the requirements of Part C of IDEA. The Department identifies a State as needing
intervention under IDEA Part C if its RDA Percentage is less than 60%. Mississippi’s RDA
Percentage is 53.57%. The major factors c ontributing to Mississippi’s 2023 Needs Intervention
determination are the State’s longstanding noncompliance and the State’s RDA score of zero on a
certain results element.
In the 2023 Part C Compliance Matrix, the State received a score of zero for the Longstanding
Noncompliance data element (i.e., longstanding uncorrected noncompliance and/or Specific
Conditions). The State reported one finding of noncompliance identified in FFY2013 related to
the timely provision of services was still uncorrected. The State also reported five findings or
noncompliance identified in FFY 2017 related to timely development of an IFSP with transition
steps and services, and one finding of noncompliance identified in FFY 2017 related to timely
transition conferences were sti ll uncorrected.
In the 2023 Part C Results Matrix, the State received a score of zero on one of the child
performance data elements (i.e., comparing the State’s FFY 2021 data to the State’s FFY 2020
data). This means that the State’s FFY 2021 child outcome results data were low compared to the
State’s own FFY 2020 child outcomes data.
Pursuant to Section 616(d)(2)(B) and 642 of the IDEA and 34 C.F.R. § 303.703(b)(2), a State
that is determined to be “needs intervention” or “needs substantial intervention” a nd does not
agree with this determination, may request an opportunity to meet with the Assistant Secretary to
demonstrate why the Department should change the State’s determination. To request a hearing,
submit a letter to Glenna Wright -Gallo , the Assistan t Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20202 within 15 days of the date of this letter. The letter must include the basis
for your request for a change in your State’s determination.
As a reminder, your State must report annually to the public, by posting on the State lead
agency’s website, on the performance of each early intervention service (EIS) program located in
the State on the targets in the SPP/APR as soon as practicable, but no later than 120 days after
the State’s submission of its FFY 20 21 SPP/APR. In addition, your State must:
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(1) review EIS program performance against targets in the State’s SPP/APR;
(2) determine if each EIS program “meets the requirements” of Part C, or “needs assistance,”
“needs intervention,” or “needs substantial intervention” in implementing Part C of the
IDEA ;
(3) take appropriate enforcement action; and
(4) inform each EIS program of its determination.
Further, your State must make its SPP/APR available to the public by posting it on the SEA’s
website. Within the upcoming weeks, OSEP will be finalizing a State Profile that:
(1) includes the State’s determination letter and SPP/APR, OSEP attachments , and all State
attachments that a re 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 State’s efforts to improve results for infants and toddlers with disabilities
and looks forward to working with your State 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,
/s/
Valerie Williams
Director
Office of Special Education Programs
cc: State Part C Coordinator
(Grant Year 2021–2022 — Issued June 21, 2023)
How the department made determinations
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Last modified on August 18, 2023