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The Office of Special Education Programs is the arm of the federal government that oversees special education. OSEP is currently seeking input regarding changes in their monitoring system.
OSEP has determined to switch to a results driven accountability system from whatever the previous system was. These changes sometimes make me nervous, but the concept of focusing on outcomes for kids with disabilities seems really good.
In pursuit of this goal, OSEP has posted a series of questions seeking comments from stakeholders. If you feel strongly about special education, you should comment. This is your chance to provide your input, and I strongly believe that OSEP will consider your input carefully. They may not agree, but you will be heard.
The current question seeks comments concerning the core principles that OSEP has developed internally to guide its process toward results driven accountability. Here are the principles:
The current question seeks comments concerning the core principles that OSEP has developed internally to guide its process toward results driven accountability. Here are the principles:
- OSEP is developing the RDA system in partnership with our stakeholders.
- The RDA system is transparent and understandable to states and the general public, especially individuals with disabilities and their families.
- The RDA system drives improved outcomes for all children and youth with disabilities regardless of their age, disability, race/ethnicity, language, gender, socioeconomic status, or location.
- The RDA system ensures the protection of the individual rights of each child or youth with a disability and their families, regardless of his/her age, disability, race/ethnicity, language, gender, socioeconomic status, or location.
- The RDA system provides differentiated incentives, supports, and interventions based on each state’s unique strengths, progress, challenges, and needs.
- The RDA system encourages states to direct their resources to where they can have the greatest positive impact on outcomes and the protection of individual rights for all children and youth with disabilities, and minimizes state burden and duplication of effort.
- The RDA system is responsive to the needs and expectations of the ultimate consumers (i.e., children and youth with disabilities and their families) as they identify them.
You can and should let OSEP know what you think on this website. You can review the core principles here. You can review the previous four questions and resulting comments at these websites: one, two, three and four.
Let me know what you think of the RDA process.
