Transcript Slide 1

State-Wide Special Education
Services
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Minnesota Charter Schools are
independent school districts.
As independent school districts, they
are required to follow all federal and
state special education guidelines.
Presently there are 131 charter schools
throughout the state of Minnesota.
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Historical Overview
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The MN Charter Schools Special
Education Project (MCSSEP) began
through the collaborative efforts of early
charter school leaders and the
Commissioner of Education, as well as
special education division leaders in the
MN Department of Education (MDE).
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Historical Overview
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In 1997, an Advisory Board was
formed to design a special
education project that would
provide guidance, direction and
support to charters in developing
and implementing a total special
education system.
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Historical Overview
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Each year since 1997, the Project has
developed a grant proposal for the
evolving special education system
needs of charter schools.
In 2002-2003, the Project needed to
assess fees for service due to the
growing need.
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Historical Overview
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In the first year of operation, the
Project was staffed with one
professional position to address the
technical assistance and training
needs of 24 charter schools.
Currently the Project services over 90
charter schools throughout Minnesota,
staffed by three directors and two
coordinators.
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Public School
Enrollment in MN
School
Year
# of
Charter
Schools
in MN
# of
Charter
School
Students
in MN
Total # of
Public
School
Students
in MN
% of
Students
in MN
Enrolled
in
Charters
# of
Charter
School
Students
in
Mpls/St.
Paul
Total # of
Public
School
Students
in
Mpls/St.
% of
Students
in Mpls/St.
Paul
Enrolled
in
Charters
Paul
2003/04
88
14,256
842,915
1.70%
8,259
94,166
8.77%
2004/05
105
17,549
838,503
2.10%
10,126
91,744
11.04%
2005/06
125
20,610
838,997
2.46%
11,014
90,813
12.13%
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Public Enrollment
The number of charter schools has gradually increased each year.
While the number of students in Minnesota has declined in the last
three years, charter school enrollment has increased.
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Revenue
Sources
Excess
Cost
Aid
+
Billing
Revenue
on
Non-resident
Students
+
Traditional school districts and charter
school districts both receive special
education funds from state and federal
sources. Traditional school districts
also can receive
revenue through excess cost aid tuition
billing and have levy capability, while
charter schools lack levy authority
and do not receive excess cost aid.
Levy
=
Traditional
School Districts
Excess
Cost
Revenue
Billing
Revenue
=
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Services
MCSSEP SERVICE OPTIONS
 Minnesota Charter Schools Special
Education Project provides all the
mandated components required to
serve as a special education director
of a school district. MCSSEP serves
as a special education director to
charter schools throughout the state of
Minnesota.
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Services
Because of the grant provided by the Minnesota
Department of Education, MCSSEP is able to provide
general services to developing charter schools,
parents, parent advocacy groups and other agencies.
These services include:
 Basic print information and short-term consultation
on charter school responsibilities for students with
disabilities;
 State and federal statutes, non-discrimination
mandates, and child find procedures;
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Services
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Special education policy and procedural
information/training to prospective charter
school founders and leaders;
Short-term consultation and print materials
in collaboration with MDE;
Referrals to appropriate sources on charter
schools, advocacy supports, other school
districts and divisions of the MDE;
Support on completing state application
process including required signatures;
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Services
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Liaison for charter schools to MDE policy
or action groups;
Information liaison to other agencies/school
districts on special education in charter
schools;
General information on teacher recruitment
and securing contracted services; and
MCSSEP web site: www.mcssep.org
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Training Opportunities
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The Project organizes and presents
training for all charter schools throughout
MN, regardless of contract agreement.
Each year, training topics are developed
according to the needs of the charter
schools and staff.
In correlation with the trainings, the Project
has developed a special education
handbook and many other due process
resources.
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05-06 Trainings
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Special Education 101 – held 8-10-05; 8-21-05 (2x)
Due Process – held 8-17-05; 8-25-05; 3-3-06 (2x); 4-27-06
SpEd Forms – held 8-23-05
NCI Training – held 8-29-05; 8-31-05; 1-27-06; 2-9-06; 4-21-06; 5-15-06
Transition Training – held 9-30-05; 2-10-06
Woodcock Johnson III Training – held 10-06-05
Evaluations – held 11-4-05; 11-11-05
ASD – held 10-18-05; 10-20-05; 12-8-05; 2-25-06; 3-24-06; 4-12-06
IEP Content and Procedures – held 12-9-05
Special Education Spring Training – held 2-23-06; 3-16-06; 4-20-06;
5-11-06
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Group Meetings – held 3-17-06
SEAC, Highly Qualified and Other Issues – held 5-5-06
Behavior and Interventions – held 5-12-06
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Services
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MN Charter Schools Special
Education Handbook, other materials,
updates, and regulation/rule changes;
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Information on state special education
aid and federal special education
funds;
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Services
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Guidance/referral on special education
licensing, variances and State Board
of Teaching actions giving schools
permission to hire;
Support in addressing special
education staff evaluation &
performance issues;
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Services
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Due process procedure/policy training;
special education training to address
program needs of schools;
Support in conducting complex or
problematic meetings for evaluation
planning; evaluation reporting and IEP
development;
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Services
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Test loans, test scoring services on
selected special education tests, such
as:
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Achievement Assessments
Behavioral Assessments
Adaptive Scales
Transition Surveys
ASD Assessments
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Services
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Guidance/support in responding to
letters of complaint or potential formal
complaints;
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Guidance/support in designing
corrective action plans; implementation
of corrective action plan;
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Services
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Guidance in fiscally responsible
budget development issues and
allowable state and federal
expenditure reporting for special
education, such as:
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EDRS
UFARS
MARRS
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Services
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Longer-term assistance in securing
contracted services or other formal
educational agency relationships.
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Resource Directory, which includes
contact information for area
psychologists, speech pathologists,
etc.
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Services
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Each charter school is assigned a
specific director who works in all areas
to ensure compliance with all state and
federal guidelines. Special education
directors provide guidance using a
variety of methods: training, on-site
visits, emails, phone calls, and print
resources.
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Communication
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The Project serves as a direct link between
the Minnesota Department of Education
and the Charter Schools we serve.
This link of communication is not only to
ensure timely and accurate state reporting,
but also to communicate current and new
special education guidelines through
training opportunities.
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Quotes from
Parents
"It is either THIS school, or move out of town." I happen to know a family that moved out of town
because of not having your charter as an option. They moved the year the school was being
planned and have since stated they wish they had had the option to stay. “
“Without the "special" help from you and the Special Education offered by [this charter school], my
daughter’s school performance would not have been nearly as successful as it has been.”
“[Our charter school] opened my eyes to life and I'm grateful for the chance to attend such a
wonderful place. These last three years were the catalyst to becoming who I am today. A "real"
learning experience starts at [this charter school]”
“My son has been doing homework this week. There seems to have been a revelation.
He's taking more responsibility, and we are so pleased. Thanks for working with him.
Having time with you to work on these areas is the best thing that could happen.”
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