Compliance and results drive new special education efforts.

Office of Special Education Programs' Results Driven Accountability

News

We Would Like Your Feedback—Results Driven Accountability: IDEA Part C Results Data in Determinations
OSEP is committed to implementing a results-driven accountability framework that leads to increased state and local capacity to improve results and functional outcomes for children with disabilities. As part of this effort, OSEP asked the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) to provide input on Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C results measures that could be used to review states’ performance results of their infants and toddlers with disabilities who receive early intervention services. We would like your feedback on the proposed approach.

New Accountability Framework Raises the Bar for State Special Education Programs
To improve the educational outcomes of America’s 6.5 million children and youth with disabilities, on June 24, 2014 the U.S. Department of Education, announced a major shift in the way it oversees the effectiveness of states’ special education programs.

Joint Letter to Chief State School Officers about RDA
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), of which OSEP is a part, and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) are working together to ensure that all stakeholders in the Department of Education (Education) have the supports necessary to address the needs of all children, including children with disabilities. To provide Education’s stakeholders and partners with coordinated support, it is collaborating across offices to deliver more effective monitoring, policies and technical assistance.

On May 21, 2014, OESE Assistant SecretaryDeborah Delisle and OSERS Acting Assistant Secretary Michael Yudin wrote a joint letter to Chief State School Officers about RDA:
Joint Letter Explaining the RDA Framework (220KB)
Michael Yudin's Press Call About RDA (7.6MB)

About

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has revised its accountability system to shift the balance from a system focused primarily on compliance to one that puts more emphasis on results.

RDA's Three Components:

State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Reports (SPP/APR), which measures results and compliance. States are currently developing State Systematic Improvement Plans (SSIPs), designed to improve outcomes in targeted areas.
Determinations, which reflect state performance on results, as well as compliance.
Differentiated monitoring and support for all states, but especially low performing states.

The following Core Principles (Full Version) underlie and will guide OSEP’s RDA work:

Principle 1: Partnership with stakeholders
Principle 2: Transparent and understandable to educators and families
Principle 3: Drives improved results
Principle 4: Protects children and families
Principle 5: Differentiated incentives and supports to states
Principle 6: Encourages states to target resources and reduces burden
Principle 7: Responsive to needs

Resources

OSEP and its grantees have created and compiled a collection of resource materials to provide information related to RDA.

Slides to Explain Results Driven Accountability (RDA)

State Directors of Special Education and Part C Coordinators can use these slide decks to explain RDA to their stakeholders in both Part B and Part C programs.

Part B (MS Powerpoint) (54KB) | Part C (MS Powerpoint) (54KB)

OSEP GRADS360°

OSEP GRADS360°is a site where you can find highlighted SPP/APR resources, other OSEP material on the Highlighted Resources page, information about grants, an SSIP Overview and Tools, and an events calendar with important dates to remember. GRADS360° is also the platform for states to submit the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) Part B and Part C State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) electronically.