VESID News

Response to Intervention (RtI) is a multi-tiered, problem-solving approach that identifies general education students struggling in academic and behavioral areas early and provides them with systematically applied strategies and targeted instruction at varying levels of intervention.   A memorandum encouraging all school districts in New York State to take timely actions to implement RtI programs in its schools is available.

A memorandum to provide guidance on the continuum of special education services for school-age students with disabilities is available. 

A memorandum to clarify the responsibility of the Committee on Special Education (CSE) to provide special education services to a child with a disability under the age of seven who is eligible for school-age services, not subject to compulsory attendance requirements and not on a regular school attendance register for school-age children is now available.

The application by which local educational agencies (LEAs) may request an exception from NYSED to exceed the 1.0 percent cap in counting as proficient and advanced for accountability purposes the scores of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities based on alternate academic achievement standards is now available.  

A memorandum detailing New Procedures for Approval of Summer 2008 Extended School Year (July/August) Special Education Programs is now available.

A memorandum with information about a ruling relating to the provision of special education services to students with disabilities in New York State (NYS) who are instructed at home by their parents (home schooled) is now available.  The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that home schooled students receive special education services to the same extent that other parentally placed private school students receive services only if the home schools are recognized under State law as private elementary or secondary schools.

VESID has scheduled three public hearings on its proposed regulations to implement Chapter 378 of the NYS Laws of 2007, IDEA 2004 and the final federal regulations to implement IDEA 2004.  The regulations are scheduled for discussion at the January 2008 Regents meeting and for action at the Regents meeting in May 2008. 

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently issued a policy letter addressing students with disabilities’ access to advanced programs. OCR reaffirmed that section 504 and Title II of ADA require that qualified students with disabilities be given the same opportunities to compete for and benefit from accelerated programs and classes as are given to students without disabilities.

Amendment to the State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Supplement for Supported Employment Services Program - Federal Fiscal Year 2008 - Each year VESID, in cooperation with the State Rehabilitation Council, holds public meetings to gather ideas from consumers, advocates and service providers on how VESID can improve services and results. This year, VESID is particularly interested in your comments on interagency partnerships related to transition, supported employment and postsecondary education.

New York State's Annual State Application Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as Amended in 2004 for Federal Fiscal Year 2008 has been posted for public review for 60 days (through  February 26, 2008) with written public comments accepted until February 15, 2008.

As required under Section 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the State has prepared a public report of each school district's performance on fourteen special education indicators against the State's targets available at Special Education School District Data Profile.

The Board of Regents is proposing major new initiatives to help close the achievement gap. Highlights from the Regents Budget Proposals for this next stage of reform are presented in the latest edition of the Education Report.

Mediation is a voluntary process in which the parent or guardian of a student with a disability and a representative of the school district meet with a mediator to resolve disputes. A sample Request for Special Education Mediation form to provide parents and school districts the opportunity to request mediation is now available. 

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