State-Wide Special Education Services

1. State-Wide Special EducationServices

2. 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.

3. Historical Overview • 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). 

4. Historical Overview • 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.

5. Historical Overview • 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.

6. Historical Overview • 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.

7. Public School Enrollment in MN

8. 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.

9. Revenue Sources + + = = Excess Cost Aid Billing Revenue on Non-resident Students Levy Traditional School Districts Excess Cost Revenue 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. Billing Revenue Charter School Districts Excess Cost Revenue

10. 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.

11. 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;

12. Services • 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;

13. Services • 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

14. Training Opportunities • 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.

15. 05-06 Trainings • 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 • Group Meetings – held 3-17-06 • SEAC, Highly Qualified and Other Issues – held 5-5-06 • Behavior and Interventions – held 5-12-06

16. Services • MN Charter Schools Special Education Handbook, other materials, updates, and regulation/rule changes; • Information on state special education aid and federal special education funds;

17. Services • 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;

18. Services • 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;

19. Services • Test loans, test scoring services on selected special education tests, such as: • Achievement Assessments • Behavioral Assessments • Adaptive Scales • Transition Surveys • ASD Assessments

20. Services • Guidance/support in responding to letters of complaint or potential formal complaints; • Guidance/support in designing corrective action plans; implementation of corrective action plan;

21. Services • Guidance in fiscally responsible budget development issues and allowable state and federal expenditure reporting for special education, such as: • EDRS • UFARS • MARRS

22. Services • Longer-term assistance in securing contracted services or other formal educational agency relationships. • Resource Directory, which includes contact information for area psychologists, speech pathologists, etc.

23. Services • 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.

24. Communication • 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.

25. Quotes fromParents "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.”