Reading for Blind and Dyslexic (Learning Ally) Membership

Students are eligible for RFBD (now called Learning Ally) services if identified with a print disability like Dyslexia.  This diagnoses can come from a clinic or school.  Contact me for more information. The website is: http://www.learningally.org/

IDEA MOE Update – New OSEP Guidance – from DPI

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires a local educational agency (LEA) to expend from local and state funds at least as much in the current year as it expended in the preceding year, except as provided.  This provision is known as the maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement. When an LEA fails to maintain its level of local expenditures for special education, the State of Wisconsin must pay the U.S. Department of Education from state funds an amount equal to the LEA’s shortfall in local fiscal effort.  The LEA, in turn, reimburses the State, using funds for which it is not accountable to the federal government.  The IDEA regulations do not address whether in the year following the year in which the LEA failed to meet the MOE requirement, the LEA must expend at least the amount it expended in the last year it met the MOE requirement or the lower amount it expended in the immediate prior fiscal year when it failed the MOE requirement. 

In a June 16, 2011, response to an inquiry from Bill East, Executive Director of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE), the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education, issued a policy interpretation addressing this issue.  The letter may be viewed at http://lists.dpi.wi.gov/t/86899/96920/270/0/ It notes the IDEA does not contain a specific provision addressing this circumstance and states “…the Department must rely on the plain language of the statute and regulation…which provide that an LEA may not reduce its level of expenditures…below the level of those expenditures for the preceding fiscal year.”  The letter continues, “It [the LEA] is not obligated to expend at least the amount it expended in the last fiscal year for which it met the maintenance of effort requirement. In other words, each year’s LEA maintenance of effort obligation is based on the amount expended in the immediate prior fiscal year.” 

An LEA that fails to meet the MOE requirement is only required to expend from local and state funds the amount it expended in the immediate prior fiscal year. The DPI will apply this standard for FY 2011. For example, if an LEA expended $650,000 from local and state funds in FY 2009 and only $600,000 in FY 2010, it failed the MOE requirement by $50,000. Consistent with the OSEP policy interpretation, the LEA was required to expend at least $600,000 in FY 2011, not the $650,000 the LEA expended when it last met the MOE requirement in FY 2009. 

Please note an LEA must budget at least as much local and state funds for special education, either in total or per capita, as it expended in the most recent fiscal year.  Therefore, in order to be eligible to receive IDEA grants in FY 2012, an LEA must budget at least the amount of local and state funds it expended in FY 2011.  An LEA that does not meet this requirement will not be eligible for IDEA grants in FY 2012

If you have questions about this letter, you may contact Lori Ames, Fiscal Monitoring Consultant, at (608) 267-3749 or lori.ames@dpi.wi.gov, or Rachel Zellmer at (608) 266-1787 or rachel.zellmer@dpi.wi.gov.

Pre-Kindergarten Teaching Positions

I would like to recognize and thank Sheila Hollatz and Ashlee Quilling for being two of our finest teachers in the Medford Area Public School District.  They have each provided our pre-kindergarten students, families, and program with quality and excellence.  In so many ways our pre-kindergarten is better because they have taught here in our school district. 

Sheila and Ashlee have both resigned from their positions to teach Kindergarten in the Marshfield and Boyceville School Districts respectively.  These are both closer to their homes and families.  Those school districts are getting two excellent teachers and quality people for their students and families.  I wish them nothing but the best in their new positions.  Please offer them your congratulations and a thank you.  

We will be interviewing candidates for those positions on Wednesday June 29 and hope to offer 2 candidates a position by end of the week.  

Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy: A Resource and Planning Guide

Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy: A Resource and Planning Guide

This has been posted to the website at http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pdf/ot-pt-guide-2nd-edition.pdf. This publication will help school staff and parents understand the key roles OTs and PTs play in the lives of children who need their services to benefit from their education. Their work supports our shared goal that every child will graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in the workforce and/or higher education.

Transfer of Service

The Transfer of Service Exemption (WI Statute 121.91(4)(a) provides that a school district which assumes responsibility for a program or service from another governmental unit may request and be granted an exemption to the district revenue limit equal to the increased cost due to that program or service. If the service transferred is a student that requires Special Education or ESL services, the exemption will be reduced by the amount of categorical aid the district will receive the following year, as determined by DPI. If the previous governmental unit was another Wisconsin school district, that district's revenue limit may be reduced by an amount equal to their reduction in cost as a result of that transfer out.

I anticipate requesting Transfer of Service Exemption for 2-3 students.  This will be projected revenue savings of $20,000.

Nova Net Curriculum

We will be moving to the web based version of Nova Net for the 11-12 school year.  This will be a savings of $5,300 for 11-12 and $8,300 in each future year based on prior budgeted amounts.  The cost for 11-12 is $749 per license.  Nova Net is our primarily curriculum used at our Alternative High School with individual slots also available at MASH depending on IEP needs of students with disabilities.

Wilson Trainings

Medford staff will be able to attend these trainings:

Wilson Just Words Training

Location: Eagle River

Dates: September 14 and 15

Wilson Reading Training

Location: Brookfield

Dates: September 15 and 16

Wilson Fundations Level 3

Location: Eagle River

Dates: September 13