Fore more information regarding First Steps services, how to qualify, online training, MPACT resources, or a chance to share your story regarding First Steps follow this link:  

http://ptimpact.org/PartC/PartC.aspx  

The Department has been engaged in a process of revising the Missouri Early Learning Standards (MELS).  This includes revisions to the existing standards for children ages 3 to kindergarten entry and expanding those standards for children birth to age three.  Along with this significant revision, we are also considering the alignment to the Core Academic Standards.

At this time, the Department is requesting comments on these revisions.  The draft revised standards are located at http://dese.mo.gov/se/se-ls01.15.13-3(New).htm.  All comments should be sent to  joanne.ralston@dese.mo.gov for consideration as we move forward with this important work.  These comments must be received no later than February 28, 2013.  

At the State Board of Education meeting on January 22, 2013, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Special Education proposed changes to the Missouri Part C State Plan.  These are the regulations that govern the First Steps Early Intervention Program.

The changes were approved by the State Board of Education as proposed by Department staff.  Although approved by the State Board of Education, the Missouri Part C State Plan will not be final until the state rulemaking process has been completed, which is tentatively scheduled for June 1, 2013.

A copy of the proposed Missouri Part C State Plan that was approved on January 22, 2013, is available on the web at:  http://dese.mo.gov/se/stateplan/index.html click on Proposed 2012 Version - Approved January 2013.  

The Office of Civil Rights with the U.S. Department of Education has issued new guidance detailing school districts' legal obligations to provide students with disabilities equal access to athletics activities.  The guidance letter clarifies existing law and encourages school districts to improve and expand upon athletic opportunities for students with disabilities.  The guidance provides examples of the types of reasonable modifications that schools may be required to make to existing policies, practices, or procedures.  The guidance also notes that the law does not require that a student with a disability be allowed to participate in any selective or competitive program offered by a school district, so long as the selection or competition criteria are not discriminatory.  The analysis is based on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The guidance letter can be found at http://dese.mo.gov/se/se-ls01.28.13.htm.  Questions about this guidance should be addressed to the Kansas City Regional Office for OCR at U.S. Department of Education, 8930 Ward Parkway, Suite 2037, Kansas City, MO 64114-3302, Telephone: (816) 268-0550, Facsimile: (816) 268-0599 or email OCR.KansasCity@ed.gov.  

President Barack Obama signed the Uninterrupted Scholars Act which amends a portion of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to permit schools to release educational records to child welfare workers responsible for the care and protection of the student, without parental consent.  This is a new exception to the general requirement that parental consent is needed before releasing educational records to third parties.

The new law also provides an exception to the requirement that districts inform parents before they comply with a judicial order or subpoena requesting educational records.  There is no need to notify parents if the judicial order or subpoena is issued in the context of a court proceeding involving the parent concerning issues of abuse and neglect or dependency.

Should you or your staff have questions about requirements of this law, you may contact the U.S. Department's Family Policy Compliance Office at 202-260-3887 or FERPA@ed.gov. 

DESE has filed the IDEA Part B and Part C Annual Performance Report (APR) and revised State Performance Plan (SPP) with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).  The documents are posted on our website at: http://dese.mo.gov/se/SPPpage.html .

The SPP, required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), was developed with input from stakeholders and is the document that drives our monitoring focus.  This document, which connects compliance and performance, is used to evaluate each state's efforts in implementing IDEA.  The SPP includes eighteen required indicators identified by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) (both compliance and performance related), baseline data reflecting the state's efforts to implement IDEA; measurable and rigorous targets for a six year period; and, activities the state will undertake to improve performance and compliance in order to meet the targets.

The APR is a report of the state's performance on the indicators and targets established in the SPP, due February 1 of each year.

It is suggested that you become familiar with the SPP and APR as we move forward with making the connection between compliance and student performance.  While the APR shows some improvement, there is still much work to be done to improve student achievement.  It is important that you share this information with your staff, parents, and community.

Thank you for your continued hard work on behalf of students with disabilities