2002-2003

ANNUAL REPORT

IOWA SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State of Iowa

Department of Education

Grimes State Office Building

Des Moines, Iowa

50319-0146

State Board of Education

Gene E. Vincent, President, Carroll

Sally J. Frudden, Vice President, Charles City

Jim Billings, Spirit Lake

Charles C. Edwards, Jr., Des Moines

Sr. Jude Fitzpatrick, Davenport

Gregory D. McClain, Cedar Falls

Mary Jean Montgomery, Spencer

Donald L. Roby, Decorah

Kay E. Wagner, Bettendorf

Administration

Ted Stilwill, Director and Executive Officer of the State

Board of Education

Gail Sullivan, Chief of Staff

Division of Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education

Judy Jeffrey, Administrator

Lana Michelson, Chief, Bureau of Children, Family and

Community Services

Steve Maurer, Consultant and Panel Facilitator

It is the policy of the Iowa Department of Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age or marital status in its programs or employment practices. If you have questions, or grievances related to this policy, please contact the Bureau of Administration and School Improvement Services, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0146. (515) 281-5811.

2002-2003

SEAP MEMBERSHIP

Members of the Advisory Panel are appointed by the Director of Education.

A SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL

PURPOSE:

“To provide policy guidance with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities…”

DUTIES:

a) Advise State education agency on unmet needs;

b) Comment publicly on any rules and regulations proposed by the State;

c) Advise State educational agency in developing evaluations and on reporting data to the Secretary;

d) Advise State education agency in developing corrective action plans to address findings in Federal monitoring reports;

e) Advise State education agency in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services;

§300.652

MISSION STATEMENT

The Iowa Special Education Advisory Panel serves as a collaborative resource to advise and advocate on behalf of all children with special needs and their families on issues of best practice and special education compliance. This panel provides opportunity for dialogue among diverse stakeholders regarding philosophies and policies that will result in successful outcomes for persons with disabilities.

1998

VISION STATEMENT

All children in Iowa are members of communities that provide opportunities and needed supports for meaningful lives and quality education experiences.

2000

KEY PRACTICES

The following demonstrates activities that were the primary emphasis for panel members in the past year. The information reflects panel involvement and responsiveness to state issues and public concerns.

The major priorities for the panel were:

1. Provide input to the state’s responses for NCLB, IDEA Reauthorization and the State Improvement Plan.

2. Reexamined the SEAP values, priorities, organization and membership in regards to public awareness and panel influence.

3. Revised the orientation manual.

4. Attended to membership to membership of racial/ethnic diversity on the panel.

Other activities panel members addressed:

1. Reviewed the President’s Commission on Special Education Report. Provided recommendations to OSEP.

2. Reviewed Focused Monitoring document.

3. Received general overview of Iowa’s Special Education finance system.

4. Received general overview of Iowa’s Medicaid program.

5. Members attended Iowa’s Special Education Law Conference.

6. Reviewed “Persistently Dangerous School Rule.”

7. Reviewed and commented on:

· Midwest Child Care Research Consortium Data

· Child Care Keeps Parents Earning and Children Learning Data

· Early Learning Guidelines

· Governor’s Early Care Initiative

8. Reviewed Early Access Improvement Plan.

9. Participated in a day long meeting where John Copenhaver, Director, Mountains Plains Regional Resource Center, gave a presentation on purposes, functions and effective practices of the State Special Education Advisory Panel.

10. Reviewed and discussed our Response to Intervention/Problem Solving model.

11. Identified practices for the 2003-2004 school year.

PRIORITY SETTING

During 2002-2003 meetings of the panel the following constituent concerns were expressed:

· Urban Educators-NCLB implementation

· Teachers-NCLB implementation

· Board of Regents (Institute of Higher Education)-Alignment of Department and Licensure Board activities

· Post Secondary Providers-Transition services

· Adult/Juvenile Corrections-Special Education services

· Parents-Transition and NCLB

· Paraeducators-Mental health issues

With these issues in mind, panel members selected two priorities to focus on during the 2003-2004 school year. These were Transition and Reinvent Iowa (Special Education Service Delivery and Funding). These priorities would be examined through the filters of IDEA and NCLB.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Webpage

Department

SEAP