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Special Education Disproportionality - Procedural Compliance Self-Assessment

Special Education (Indicator 9 and Significant Disproportionality)

If a public agency meets criteria for Indicators 9 and/or 10 and/or the separate, but related, criteria for significant disproportionality in special education and/or specific disability areas, then WDPI provides for the review and, if appropriate, revision of policies, procedures, and practices related to the requirements of 34 CFR 300.111, 300.201, and 300.301 through 300.311.

Creating the sample

The Disproportionality-PCSA uses sampling techniques, in part, to develop a representative data set. Sampling is used as a cost-effective method of assessing a public agency’s performance without reviewing information on every child. The information gathered is used to generalize from the sample to all children with disabilities served by the public agency. To increase precision, some samples have been “weighted” to ensure certain subgroups are adequately represented in the sample. WDPI developed interactive sampling calculators and instructions to help LEAs develop racially-disaggregated samples consistent with the requirements, below.

The LEA’s sample is calculated to reflect the racial proportionality of students with initial evaluations between July 1 of the previous year and June 30 of the year the student was found eligible.

The data entered by the LEA into the interactive sampling calculator, and used to generate the sample, includes all students with disabilities, 6-21, initially evaluated and found eligible during the dates specified. The data excludes parentally placed private school students.

The LEA must create race-specific lists of students initially evaluated and found eligible. The LEA uses the WDPI interactive sampling calculator and random.org to develop a sample that reflects the racial diversity of its students found eligible for special education through an initial evaluation during a one-year time period.

The maximum number of student records reviewed for Indicator 9 or the separate, but related, area of significant disproportionality, is 70 (rounding may occur).

Reviewing records

IEPs in effect at the end of the previous school year, IEP team evaluations from the previous school year, and public agency records are used to conduct the Disproportionality-PCSA. The WDPI has standards and directions for each requirement in the Disproportionality-PCSA. The standards and directions are applied by the public agency staff in completing the Disproportionality-PCSA.

Record review checklists have been developed by the WDPI for use with pupil records of students in the samples. The checklists contain requirements relevant for each sample and is recommended, but not required, for LEA use.

Recording forms have been developed to summarize the results from each sample. The recording forms are not required.

All records created for the Disproportionality-PCSA must be maintained for the year in which the self-assessment is completed and for four (4) additional fiscal years (July 1 through June 30).

Reporting results via the Special Education Portal

Click here for general instructions on reporting Disproportionality-PCSA results via the Special Education Portal.

Special note: When you report via the Disproportionality-PCSA (special education), you will include the student’s name and race.

Special note: You will be required to report aggregate data, by race/ethnicity, (no student record reviews) on ALL reevaluations that occurred and 3-year reevaluations agreed not necessary between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014. 

Correcting noncompliance

Click here for general instructions on correcting noncompliance.

Special note: You must correct student noncompliance as soon as possible.  District-wide noncompliance must be corrected as soon as possible and within one year.

Tools for conducting the Disproportionaltiy - Procedural Compliance Self-Assessment (special education)

Disproportionality - Procedural Compliance Self-Assessment Sample Calculator

Special Education Web Portal

Standards and Directions for Assessing Compliance 10/20/14

Options for Required District-Wide Corrective Actions for Disproportionality Compliance Items 10/20/14

Disproportionality - PCSA Special Education Record Review Checklist

Disproportionality - PCSA Recording Forms