Wondering About Carryover Funds from FY19?

The following is information from ISBE sent to IAASE by Tim Imler.
FY 2019 IDEA Part B Carryover
Carryover funds are unbudgeted and/or unexpended funds from the previous fiscal year calculated from the grantee’s final expenditure report. It is important to note that carryover cannot be computed unless the final expenditure report is submitted.

A final expenditure report is defined as:

• The cumulative expenditure through date is equal to or is greater than the project end date, and;
• There are no outstanding obligations reported.

Special education cooperatives with a FY19 IDEA Part B project end date of June 30 must submit a completion report on or before July 20. If that report does not reflect any outstanding obligations, then the report is considered final and carryover will be computed.

If the July 20 report is submitted with outstanding obligations, then a final expenditure report that reflects total project expenditures (with all prior obligations liquidated) must be submitted no later than 90 calendar days after the project end date. Cooperatives with project end dates of August 31 must submit the completion report on or before September 20. The same liquidation timelines apply.

For Those Cooperatives NOT on a One Year ExtensionThe following guidance is applicable to special education cooperatives that did not elect the one year extension. Please communicate to your member districts that carryover will not be allocated to them until the cooperative’s final FY19 expenditure report(s) is on file at ISBE. It is critical that the final report submitted is accurate so that any carryover can be allocated correctly. Once the FY19 final expenditure report is on file with ISBE, the special education cooperative must send a letter signed by the cooperative administrator that lists each member district and the amount of carryover to be allocated to them. The signed letter can be scanned and emailed to me at timler@isbe.net or mailed to:

Illinois State Board of Education
Division of Funding and Disbursement Services (E-320)
100 North First Street
Springfield, IL 62777

Once the signed letter is received, Funding and Disbursements staff will manually load the carryover amounts into each member district’s FY20 IDEA Part B Flow Through or Preschool grant as appropriate. Member districts will then be able to login to the electronic Grants Management System and submit an amendment to access the additional funds. Questions regarding this process can be directed to the division at 217/782-5256.

ISBE Update - Deadline for Final FY 2019 Grant Amendments and End Date Extensions

Tim Imler from ISBE has been kind enough to send IAASE some great information about upcoming grant information for our members.

Deadline for Final FY 2019 Grant Amendments and End Date Extensions
Final FY19 budget amendments for IDEA Part B as well as all other state or federal grants must be received at ISBE (submitted via the electronic Grants Management System) no later than 30 calendar days prior to the end date of the project.

As a reminder, please be advised of the following regarding the need for a project end date extension:

• An end date extension past June 30 is NOT needed for regular term staff salaries paid on a 12-month salary schedule.
• An end date extension past June 30 is NOT needed to pay obligations (e.g., purchase order for supplies) incurred June 30 or prior.
• An end date extension past June 30 IS NEEDED for new activities and obligations incurred July 1 or later (e.g., Summer School, Professional Development).

Final amendments for state and federal grants with a project end date of June 30, 2019, must be received by ISBE no later than May 31, 2019. The last day amendments will be accepted for grants with a project end date of August 31, 2019, is August 1, 2019. The deadline for grant applications in the electronic Grants Management System is also referenced on the Program Overview page under “Amendment Due Date.”

Cooperatives please note: Member district amendments need to be submitted to the cooperative administrator in a timely fashion to accommodate a final review for accuracy and approvability before acceptance and approval to ISBE on or before the May 31/August 1 deadline.

Update from the IAASE Board Meeting

The IAASE Board met this week for its Spring Board meeting.  We were hosted by the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) and we accomplished so much.  Among other items, the Board discussed the following items:

• We congratulated Gene Olsen on his re-election on his re-election as the Treasurer and Dr. Christine Putlak on her re-election as the Member-at-Large.  The two leaders will serve for two years in these offices.

• We heard lots of legislative updates from our re-organized legislative team.  Among the biggest legislative issues we are facing right now, are the following bills:
• The changing landscape around the income tax in Illinois.  The latest proposal from the legislature includes some ties to school funding.  Members are encouraged to stay active during this final month of session and contact legislators as needed to make sure that any changes to the income tax structure are fair to schools across the state.
• The significant number of bills before the legislature to lessen the impact of the teacher shortage throughout the state.  Some of these bills will be supported by IAASE and others will be opposed because they, in fact, lower the bar on teaching and learning.
• HB 2605 allows a speech/language pathologist with their certificate of clinical competence to serve as a speech/language pathologist without having a teaching certificate.
• SB 209 which will change the rules for school districts looking to withdraw from a special education cooperative.  This is an IAASE bill that is working its way through the legislature in response to challenges with this process in the past year.
• SB 2025 is a bill having to do with RTI paperwork.  IAASE continues to work with the lobbyists who would like to see this bill passed.
• Most importantly regarding legislative issues, the Board discussed the longstanding issue related to reimbursements for students with high costs in cooperative and district programs.  SB 1757 would have addressed this issue and allowed for two line items to be established which would then merge at the end of 2024.  The bill made it to third reading in the Senate.  However, after careful consideration with the sponsor in the Senate, IAASE will be supporting a Senate resolution requiring school districts across the state to gather data about the costs associated with this reimbursement so that in the next year this bill can be reintroduced with actual costs.  The challenge for IAASE as an organization has always been that we can only estimate the costs associated with educating students in public settings and reimbursing at the 2x (rather than 4x) per capita rate.  As such, as the resolution moves forward, we will continue to work with all members of our organization to make sure that they are submitting costs for students with significant disabilities in less restrictive settings.

• The Board also heard from Tim Imler and Heather Calomese from ISBE regarding grants, work regarding Consolidated District Plans, the dyslexia handbook, and lots of other issues.  You can read a great email message from Tim Imler about all things DCFS/ Transportation by clicking here.

• We also reviewed the financials from February and March and a draft budget for the next fiscal year.  You can review all of those documents on the members only section of our website.

• The Board heard from the Medicaid Committee who just finished up another outstanding webinar.  They are seeking topics for webinars in the future.  You can give them feedback by clicking here.

• The Board also heard updates from the liaisons to the Illinois Principals Association, the Performance Evaluation Advisory Committee, and several other organizations about the work of these groups in the past several weeks.

As a reminder, the entire Board agenda and all of its supporting documents are available on our website under the Members Only section.

Information Regarding DCFS Youth In Care

At the IAASE Board meeting this past week, Tim Imler from ISBE provided great information to the Board regarding DCFS, Youth In Care, and Transportation.  Here is a message he sent following the Board meeting:

For those attending the IAASE Board meeting this week, here is information I discussed along with my Dept of Children and Family Services contact if you have questions regarding students in foster care and best interest determinations.

In December 2015, Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), and instituted new protections for children in foster care. These provisions took effect on December 10, 2016 and complement those in the Fostering Connections Act and require the State Education Agency and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) work with child welfare agencies (e.g. DCFS) to ensure the educational stability of children in foster care.

KEY ESSA PROVISIONS

• Children in foster care remain in the school of origin, unless it is determined that it is not in his or her best interest
• If it is not in the child’s best interest to remain in the school of origin, the child must be immediately enrolled in the new school even if they don’t have the required documentation.
• LEAs must collaborate with child welfare agencies to develop and implement clear written procedures for how transportation will be provided, arranged, and funded for the duration of a child’s time in foster care.

Resources:
(Good Resource) USDE Non-Regulatory Guidance https://www.isbe.net/Documents/edhhsfostercarenonregulatorguide.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Foster-Care-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf

ISBE Foster Care Provision Power Point https://www.isbe.net/Documents/ESSA-Foster-Care.pdf

Transportation Procedures https://www.isbe.net/Documents/20160831-ESSA-Educational-Stability-Webinar-Transportation.pdf

Districts that have made student best interest determinations which require transportation of a foster care student to his/her school origin and incur additional costs for providing such transportation may seek reimbursement of 50% of the actual cost from Department of Children and Family Services. Districts must complete the DCFS Transportation Invoice form at https://www.isbe.net/_layouts/Download.aspx?SourceUrl=/Documents/DCFS-YIC-Trans-Reimb-Invoice.xlsx and submit it to:

Department of Children and Family Services
Office of Education and Transition Services
406 E Monroe St., Sta. 23
Springfield, IL 62701
Attention: Molly Uhe-Edmonds, DCFS Deputy Director of Education and Transition Services

Questions regarding student best interest determinations and the DCFS Transportation Invoice may be directed to Molly Uhe at Molly.Uhe@illinois.gov. The deadline to submit all transportation invoices to DCFS for reimbursement is June 15, 2019.

Payment of 50% of the approved costs will be vouchered by ISBE on or before August 31, 2019. The remaining 50% of additional costs not covered by DCFS are claimable on the district’s 2018-19 Pupil Transportation Claim due to ISBE on or before August 15, 2019.

Call for Programs - IAASE Fall Conference

The IAASE Program Committee is pleased to announce the opening of its Call for Programs for the Fall Conference.  The conference will take place from Wednesday, October 16, 2019 through Friday, October 18, 2019 in Tinley Park, IL at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

The Call for Programs is open until June 30, 2019 and you can access the link by clicking here.

CASE Executive Director Set To Retire - Search Initiated

For Immediate Release
Contact: Dr. Luann Purcell (lpurcell@casecec.org)
478-333-6892

Warner Robins, GA - April 26, 2019 - The Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) Executive Director Dr. Luann Purcell has announced plans to retire at the end of February 2020. A search for Dr. Purcell’s replacement is underway.

Dr. Purcell leaves CASE as a robust and vibrant organization of leaders, with a membership of nearly 4,000 Directors of Special Education internationally. The organization provides leadership in policy, professional learning and special education leadership. Phyllis Wolfram, President of CASE, shared that “it has been an honor and a privilege to work with Dr. Purcell. She is admired and respected across the nation and has contributed significantly to the field of special education. Her dedication and commitment to local special education administrators in unmatched! Thank you cannot begin to express our appreciation for all that Dr. Purcell has brought to this organization.”

Dr. Purcell cites the positive culture of leadership as one of the association’s greatest strengths. “When I started in 2002, one of my main goals was to constantly look at what our membership needed and how CASE, through support of our subdivisions, could meet those needs. Strong CASE and state/provincial leaders were the critical factor in meeting those needs!” Dr. Purcell’s passion for CASE has been clear through her consulting and advising administrators on best practices for leadership and development of quality programs for students with disabilities; assisting members in developing networking systems through state, provincial, and country units in order to provide better services to members; advocating at the governmental level to assure appropriate legislation to facilitate the development and maintenance of quality programs for students with disabilities; and providing Keynote/breakout sessions/etc at state/provincial and regional conferences on leadership, legislative/policy updates, attitude adjustment, the passion in compassion, and other current education issues.

As a colleague and leader, Purcell will be deeply missed. Past President Gary Myrah reflects that “Luann has worked tirelessly to have CASE be a champion for children with disabilities and their families. She has built an incredible network of partner organizations that have a similar mission to provide the best opportunities for individuals with disabilities. She may be retiring from being the executive director, yet she will continue to be a leader in the field of education.”

President-Elect Erin Maguire adds, “Luann is an incredibly strong leader and has brought CASE to a point of national recognition for expertise and knowledge in the field of special education. She is a compassionate leader who has supported our organization tirelessly. CASE is supported through a network of volunteers and passionate educators who Luann fully supports and elevates to ensure local directors have a voice at the national level.”

Purcell came to CASE after 30 years in education. She has been a leader at the local and state unit level within the Council for Exceptional Children and the Council of Administrators of Special Education throughout her career. Dr. Purcell has had a variety of experiences in public education including experience as a general education teacher at both high school and middle school level, teacher of students with emotional and behavioral disorders, coordinator at a regional educational service center, and assistant superintendent for pupil services for 18 years in a local district with 27,000 students. She has keynoted and led sessions in 47 states, 3 Canadian provinces, and 4 foreign countries on various educational issues and the development of proactive leadership skills in times of change.

CASE has benefited tremendously from her experience and will continue to benefit from her leadership for years to come.

The organization plans to initiate a search for the next executive director in the coming weeks with President-Elect Erin Maguire chairing the search team. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Mrs. Maguire at emaguire@ewsd.org or via phone at 802-857-2018. 

A copy of the job posting is available by clicking here.

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Upcoming SELA Workshop

SELA Region 2 is pleased to present:

English Learners in Special Education and other Legal Updates:

 

What's New and Noteworthy in Special Education for 2019

Date: Thursday June 13, 2019

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location: East Moline Administrative Building 

Glenview Room

3451 Morton Drive

East Moline, IL 61224

Presenter: Brandon K. Wright

Target Audience: Administrators, teachers, and special education professionals

Cost: FREE

Description:

You've got questions, we've got answers! This workshop, presented by Brandon K. Wright of Miller,Tracy, Braun, Funk & Miller, Ltd., is specially designed for administrators, teachers, and other special education professionals who want a deeper dive into the emerging trends in special education law, specifically covering English Learners in special education, Section 504, managing behavior in the LRE, and other important updates. Come prepared for a lively and informative day, packed with plenty of opportunities for audience participation and targeted answers to your most pressing questions. By using case law from around the U.S., filtered through the lens of an experienced special education attorney, you will walk away with a renewed clarity about your legal obligations - and the confidence to keep focused on ensuring your district's actions are legal, efficient, and effective!

About the Presenter:

Brandon K. Wright is an attorney at the firm of Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk & Miller, Ltd. Brandon worked as an administrative assistant and consultant at the Regional Office of Education for Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski and Union Counties. He has served as an Adjunct Faculty Member at Southern Illinois University's Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses and currently teaches school law courses as an adjunct at Eastern Illinois University. Brandon focuses his practice on school law, having developed a particular interest in the field of special education, due process, and co-operative school districts.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED:

https://icsps.illinoisstate.edu/2019/04/english-learners-in-special-education-and-other-legal-updates-whats-new-and-noteworthy-in-special-education-for-2019/

U.S. Department of Education Delivers on Key School Safety Report Recommendation

APRIL 10, 2019

Contact:   (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov

WASHINGTON — Acting on the recommendations of the Federal Commission on School Safety, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today announced the release of the Parent and Educator Guide to School Climate Resources. This guide, produced jointly by the Department's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and Office for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, provides best practices and includes resources school leaders and teachers can utilize as they work to achieve a positive school climate, lower disciplinary issues and enhance school safety.

"We know that fostering a positive school climate is critical to the well-being, safety and long-term success of all students," said Secretary DeVos. "In the absence of a safe and positive learning environment, a student may feel disconnected, disregard consequences, and engage in bullying or other destructive behaviors. As teachers and school leaders assess the unique needs of their school communities, we hope this guide helps them make the decisions that are right for their students and also provides parents and guardians with effective tools to support teachers in making those decisions."

The Q&A document, which is available on the Department of Education's website, provides parents and educators with useful decision-making frameworks and implementation tools, as well as best practices that school leaders can consider as they work to foster positive and inclusive learning environments. Examples from schools across the country are included to illustrate the various interventions communities are employing to enhance student behavior and achievement. With recent research highlighting the importance of evaluating school climate through a range of indicators, the guide provides diagnostic tools so educators can collect and utilize data to drive their climate improvement strategy.

Additionally, the Parent and Educator Guide to School Climate Resources provides information to teachers and school leaders on how they can receive support from the Department's two technical assistance centers dedicated to promoting safe and supportive schools, including the National Center of Safe and Supportive Learning Environments (https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov), and the Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Sup­ports (www.pbis.org). The guide includes an appendix of additional resources spanning the work of government agencies and private organizations, equipping parents and educators to create positive learning environments for all students.

To view the Parent and Educator Guide to School Climate Resources, click here.

An Opportunity to Showcase Your Talents - Present at Illinois CEC

On behalf of the Illinois Council For Exceptional Children's 2019 Fall State Convention Committee, you are invited to submit a presentation proposal for the 2019 "Strengthen your Core" ICEC Fall Convention. Presentations will occur Thursday through Saturday and are chosen from this application.

The convention will be held Oct. 31, 2019 - Nov. 2, 2019, at the Naperville/Chicago Marriott Naperville Illinois.

Return by May 1, 2019. Notice of acceptance will be sent by June 15, 2019.

If chosen to present you MUST bring your own projector. The information on this form will be used to complete the 2019 program book if your presentation is selected. Please be accurate and specific.

Please see the link to complete the application https://forms.gle/K6bab9tDNpGdUtXGA

If you have any questions please contact Billy Martinez, ICEC Convention Co-Chair via email billym1118@comcast.net

Upcoming Medicaid Webinar - SCHOOL-BASED STRATEGIES FOR MEDICAID OUTREACH

Please join Embrace and IAASE Medicaid Committee for a Webinar on 

April 16, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

Register for this 30 minute informational webinar and join Kim Moore, Regional Sales Manager for Embrace & IAASE Medicaid Committee Board Chair, to review strategies Districts can utilize for Medicaid outreach for children who attend public schools in Illinois. 

• The purpose of this webinar is to: 
• Understand the Importance of Medicaid Coverage for Children
• Develop Awareness of Community Resources 
• Discuss Strategies for Connecting Families to Coverage 

Public schools across Illinois are realizing the positive impact for children receiving Medicaid coverage throughout their school careers. Providing support to low-income families by getting them connected to Medicaid enrollment resources will allow more students to be physically and mentally prepared to learn and grow.

To register, click here.