News, Announcements and Timely Information
NEW A revised Sample State Complaint Form includes all elements required by IDEA and provides a document to submit a complaint to NYSED. This form can be used when parents, individuals or organizations believe a school district or public agency has violated a requirement of Part B of IDEA or New York State laws or regulations related to students with disabilities.
NEW NYSED has developed a model Prior Written Notice form which will be required for use by all local and State educational agencies for all prior written notices issued during the 2011-12 school year.
NEW New York State’s Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) and the State Education Department (SED) have announced the launch of the New York ACTS Web site. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families now have a single comprehensive resource to go to for important information and the State services available to address the needs of these individuals and their families.
NEW NYSED has developed model Meeting Notice forms for Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE), Committee on Special Education (CSE) and Subcommittee on Special Education meetings. These forms will be required for use by all local and State educational agencies for all meeting notices issued during the 2011-12 school year and thereafter.
Extension of Safety Net - The Board of Regents has approved the extension of the existing RCT safety net for an additional year to make it available to all students with disabilities entering grade 9 prior to September 2011 (i.e., students with disabilities entering grade 9 in the 2010-11 school year).
Request for Applications - Effective Practice Replication School Grant Project - The purpose of this RFA is to provide fiscal support to NYSED identified school districts needing assistance or intervention to improve results for students with disabilities by learning from an Effective Practice School. Applications are due by March 12, 2010.
Public Comment - New York State's Annual State Application under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for Federal Fiscal Year 2010 has been posted for public review for 60 days (through March 15, 2010). Written comments will be accepted until February 25, 2010.
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)- Exception to 1 % Cap - The application by which local educational agencies may request an exception from NYSED to exceed the 1.0 percent cap in counting as proficient and advanced for accountability purposes, during the 2009-10 school year, the scores of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities based on alternate academic achievement standards is now available.
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)- A memorandum informing districts and charter schools of the anticipated 2009–10 school year changes to New York State’s method of determining AYP for the Students with Disabilities group in elementary/middle- and secondary-level English language arts and mathematics is available.
Request for Proposals - VESID is requesting bids from eligible applicants to operate a Transition Services Professional Development Support Center to provide professional development and technical assistance. Bids are due February 5, 2010.
Request for Proposals - VESID is requesting bids from eligible applicants to operate a technical assistance center to provide professional development in bilingual services for preschool students with disabilities.Bids are due February 3, 2010.
Parental Consent - A memorandum providing additional information relating to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirement for parental consent prior to a local educational agency (LEA) billing Medicaid to pay for individualized education program (IEP) Medicaid reimbursable special education/related services is now available.
Mediation - The New York State Dispute Resolution Association has posted new information on the use of special education mediation for New York State.
H1N1 Guidance - The latest information and guidance for child care providers and school districts related to H1N1 (swine flu) is available on the State Education Department's web site. Additional information is available from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Preparing for the Flu (Including 2009 H1N1 Flu) - A Communication Toolkit for Child Care and Early Childhood Programs
.
Behavioral Interventions and Supports - In response to a request from the U.S. Secretary of Education, New York State has posted its regulations and guidance governing the use of behavioral interventions.
Contracts - A joint memorandum between VESID and EMSC providing
clarifying
guidance 
(64 KB) regarding the authority of school
districts to provide core instructional services through contracts with
nonprofit and other entities has been issued.
Additional news from VESID: VESID News