In State and Out of State Transfer Student Guidance

1. Richard Henderson Idaho State Department of Education Division of Student Achievement and School Improvement Division of Special Education In State and Out of State Transfer Student Guidance

2. Overview • Transfer Work Team • Eligibility Establishment for Transfer Students • In State Transfer Procedure • Out of State Transfer Procedure • Monitoring and Verification of Records

3. SDE Transfer Work Team • Work team composed of Special Education Directors from around the state, SDE staff members, Regional Consultants, and Statewide Technical Assistance staff. • Group met to discuss the needed clarity around in-state and out-of-state student transfer processes and procedures that need to be standardized.

4. Transfer Students • District must make the assumption for both in state and out of state transfer students that the student is eligible to receive special education and must be provided FAPE based on the documentation presented by the prior public agency and/or parent . • District provides services until IEP Team determines the student is no longer eligible.

5. In State Transfers • Obtaining Records • Previous district has 10 days after receiving request. • Include IEP and Eligibility Report • If unable to obtain in a timely manner, district may contact Regional Consultant for assistance.

6. In State Transfers • Timelines for Annual Reviews and Re-Evaluation • Transfers between Idaho districts are assumed eligible as determined by the previous district. • When a re-evaluation is necessary, the IEP Team will use current Idaho disability criteria. • If the re-evaluation cannot be completed by due date: • District will work with parents to establish a time frame for completion. • FAPE is still provided.

7. In State Transfers • Incomplete Initial Evaluation • Request records from previous district. • Review records and determine what is needed. • Develop timeline for completion with parents. • When suspected disability is SLD • Previous district is also to provide the following:

8. In State Incomplete SLD Initial Evaluation • Copy of written notice • Consent for evaluation • Description of participation in core curriculum and interventions provided including: • Curricular materials • Instructor (Teacher/Para) • Number of weeks • Number of days per week • Number of minutes per day • Description of group (whole/small-number) • Progress monitoring instrument • Graph (aimline, trend line decision making rules) • Narrative summary of information gathered

9. Out of State Transfers • Establishing Idaho Eligibility • Provide FAPE (comparably) • IEP Team will conduct a sufficiency review • Determine what you have and what you need • If evaluation information is provided and no new assessments are needed: • Complete as a re-evaluation

10. Out of State Transfers If more information is required: • Within one year of enrollment, consent is sought for assessment. • Evaluation is considered an initial. If needed assessments cannot be completed inside the required timeline: • District will work with parents to establish a time frame when the evaluation will be completed.

11. Sufficiency Review • The sufficiency review will include: • Review of student’s education record • Document (summarize) • Based on documents provided the student meets Idaho eligibility criteria and no new data or assessment is needed, OR • Based on documents provided additional information is required to meet Idaho’s eligibility criteria • Note discrepancies between information provided and Idaho criteria, • Additional data needed, if any • Timeline to collect data • Assign responsibilities (who will monitor progress of the plan, interventions, assessments, data analysis) • Parental consent is sought for new assessments • Date determination of eligibility in Idaho will be completed • The team’s decision regarding student’s eligibility in Idaho

12. Out of State Transfers • Students with Incomplete Eligibilities • When a student transfers to a new public agency prior to the completion of the initial eligibility determination the • new public agency shall request records and documentation, and • in consultation with the parents, develop a timeline for completion of the evaluation and eligibility determination.

13. Out of State Transfers • Obtaining Student Records • The new district shall promptly request from the previous public agency the student’s records including the IEP and supporting documents and any other records relating to the provision of special education or related services to the child. • If after taking reasonable steps the district is unable to obtain the records, the Idaho district may request assistance from the State Director of Special Education to obtain the needed records.

14. Monitoring and Verification • The lists of student files that will be used by the SDE for the purposes of monitoring and Child Count Verification will be developed using data from one (1) year prior to the current Child Count. • The SDE will not include students who have been enrolled in a district for less than one (1) year in the general activities of monitoring. • The SDE may request files of students enrolled in a district for less than one (1) year for specific purposes to ensure that all students including students who transfer between districts are provided FAPE.

15. www.idahotc.comTraining and Technology for Today’s Tomorrow • Website to link school professionals and parents with special education training opportunitiesand resourcesacross the state • Supported By: • Idaho State Department of Education (ISDE), Special Education • Project Team: • Cari Murphy • Shawn Wright

16. Center for School Improvement & Policy Studies, BSU Gina Hopper, Carol Carnahan, Associate Director Statewide Consultant ginahopper@boisestate.educarolcarnahan@boisestate.edu 208.426.4363 208.426.3257 Statewide Special Education Technical Assistance (SESTA) (New Service Offered through the SDE)

17. Contact Information: Richard Henderson State Director of Special Education Idaho State Department of Education Division of Student Achievement and School Improvement Division of Special Education (208) 332-6806 rhenderson@sde.idaho.gov