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XLWXB.` hp x (#XB  XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      ` Ҁ    XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW        1      XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW  ݀Theareasspecifiedin'YXLWXXXLW300.18(b)(2)(i)through(b)(2)(iii)  areinstruction,communityexperiences,andthedevelopmentofemploymentandotherpostschooladultlivingobjectives.XLWXXYXLWTable_B dTRANSITION_PURPOSExzA`ArialTTTable_C Table_DLRE_TC  ~ Y!  XLWXB.` hp x (#XB  XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      ` <( ` hp xX<YXLWXhXLWԀ    YXLWXhYXLWXLWXhYXLW      XLWXhXLWXLWXhXLW      YXLWXhXLW  2  P    YXLWXXYXLWXLWXXYXLW  YXLWXXXLWԀAsapartofitscorrectiveactionplan,NCDPIwasrequired 8 toamendthoseproceduresthatlimitedplacementoptionsforparticularcategoriesofstudentswithdisabilities.XLWXXYXLW @ Y!  XLWX  XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      ` <( ` hp xX<YXLWXhXLWԀx    YXLWXhYXLWXLWXhYXLW      XLWXhXLWXLWXhXLW      YXLWXhXLW  3      YXLWXXYXLWXLWXXYXLW  YXLWXXXLWԀThe199293schoolyearisthemostrecentschoolyearfor 8       whichOSEPhasverifiedplacementdataavailablebyState.XLWXXYXLW dTable_E ^ Y!  XLWX*` X*   XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      ` B( ` hp xXB򀀀    XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW        4  (    XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW  ݀ForpurposesofthisReport,OSEPcombinedfourplacement  categories:publicseparatefacility,privateseparatefacility,publicresidentialfacilityandprivateresidentialfacility.InTableIIthesearereportedunderthecategory"separateschool."  ~ Y!  XLWXB.` hp x (#XB  XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      ` Ҁ    XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW        5      XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW  ݀NCDPI'smonitoringproceduresforidentifyingand/or  correctingdeficienciesregardingLRErequirementshadnotbeeneffectiveinsomeorallofeachoftheagenciesidentifiedinthefindings.However,beginningwiththe199495schoolyear,NCDPIbegantheuseofproceduresthatresultedinanincreasedcapacitytoidentifyLREdeficiencies(seeSectionIV). Table_FFAPE_TC   Y!  XLWX?+  hp x (#X?  XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      ` E( ` hp x XEYXLWXhXLWԀ    YXLWXhYXLWXLWXhYXLW      XLWXhXLWXLWXhXLW      YXLWXhXLW  6  V    YXLWXXYXLWXLWXXYXLW  YXLWXXXLWԀUnderPartB,itispermissibleforLEAstowork 8 collaborativelywithotheragencies,suchasStateorcountymentalhealthagencies,toensurethatneededrelatedservicesareprovided.However,LEAsmustensurethattheneededservicesareincludedonIEPsandprovidedatnocosttotheparentorchild.TheLEAcannottransfertotheparentresponsibilityforlocatingorfundingsuchservices.Inthoseinstanceswheretheparentcannotorwillnottakethechildtoreceivecounselingservicesfromanotherserviceprovider,itremainstheresponsibilityofthepublicagencytoensurethatthestudentreceivesthecounselingservicesdeterminednecessarytobenefitfromspecialeducation.XLWXXYXLW  Y!  XLWX  XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      ` <( ` hp xX<YXLWXhXLWԀx    YXLWXhYXLWXLWXhYXLW      XLWXhXLWXLWXhXLW      YXLWXhXLW  7      YXLWXXYXLWXLWXXYXLW  YXLWXXXLWԀOSEPrecentlyobtainedacopyofthismemorandum,whichwas 8 senttoallLEAsuperintendentsinNorthCarolinaonMay26,1995.XLWXXYXLW Table_GSEAM_TC   Y!  XLWX?+  hp x (#X?  XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      ` E( ` hp x XEYXLWXhXLWԀ    YXLWXhYXLWXLWXhYXLW      XLWXhXLWXLWXhXLW      YXLWXhXLW  8  V    YXLWXXYXLWXLWXXYXLW  YXLWXXXLWԀTherearesixtechnicalassistanceregionsintheState. 8 EachNCDPImonitorisassignedtotwoandistherebymaderesponsibleforleadingPCAsforallLEAsinthosetworegions.XLWXXYXLW  Y!  XLWX?+  hp x (#X?  XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      ` E( ` hp x XEYXLWXhXLWԀ    YXLWXhYXLWXLWXhYXLW      XLWXhXLWXLWXhXLW      YXLWXhXLW  9  V    YXLWXXYXLWXLWXXYXLW  YXLWXXXLWԀOnsomerequirements,OSEPidentifiedthesamedeficiencies 8 asNCDPIhadidentifiedinpublicagenciesEandG.NCDPIhadvisitedbothagenciesduringthe199495schoolyearand,consequently,thepublicagencieshadnothadsufficienttimetocompletecorrectiveactions.Therefore,inthesecases,OSEPmakesnojudgmentregardingtheeffectivenessofNCDPI'sprocedurestoensurethatpublicagenciescorrectidentifieddeficiencies.XLWXXYXLW  Y!  XLWX?+  hp x (#X?  XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      E( ` hp x XEYXLWXhXLWԀ    YXLWXhYXLWXLWXhYXLW      XLWXhXLWXLWXhXLW      YXLWXhXLW  10  :    YXLWXXYXLWXLWXXYXLW  YXLWXXXLWԀForinstance,duringthe199192schoolyearwhenpublic 8 agencyCwasmonitoredbyNCDPI,NCDPIhadnoprocedurefordeterminingwhetherextendedschoolyearservicesweremadeavailable,asanecessarycomponentofFAPE.WhenOSEPvisitedthisagencyin1995,itidentifiedcontinuingdeficiencieswithregardtothisrequirement.ThisisnotincludedasafindingintheReport,becauseOSEPdoesnotconsiderthissingleinstance    todemonstratesystemicnoncompliance.WhenNCDPIreviseditsproceduresasapartofitscorrectiveactionprocess,itdevelopedaneffectivemethodfordeterminingdeficiencies,asevidencedbythefindingitmadeatpublicagencyGduringthe199495schoolyear.XLWXXYXLWTABLE_IVTable_HMONIMON_SUSPEND Table_ICOMPLAINTS_TC  j Y!  _XLWX?+  hp x (#X?  XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      ` E( ` hp x XEYXLWXhXLWԀ    YXLWXhYXLWXLWXhYXLW      XLWXhXLWXLWXhXLW      YXLWXhXLW  11  f    YXLWXXYXLWXLWXXYXLW  YXLWXXXLWԀ_NCDPI_ԀconsiderstheschoolyeartobeginJuly1andendJune 8 30ofeachyear.DataforthecurrentschoolyearwasavailablefortheperiodendingMay1,1995.Although_NCDPI_Ԁhadreceived44complaintsduringthe199495schoolyear,only35wereduebyMay1,thedate_OSEP_'svisitbegan.XLWXXYXLW  Y!  _XLWX  XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      ` <( ` hp xX<YXLWXhXLWԀ    YXLWXhYXLWXLWXhYXLW      XLWXhXLWXLWXhXLW      YXLWXhXLW  12      YXLWXXYXLWXLWXXYXLW  YXLWXXXLWԀWhen_OSEP_Ԁasked_NCDPI_'scasemanageraboutreasonsforthe 8 delaysinresolvingcomplaints,itlearnedthatforthelastfiveyears,onlyonestaffmemberhasbeenresponsibleforinvestigatingandresolvingcomplaints,andthatotherdutiessuchasadministeringportionsofthedueprocesshearingsystem,respondingtoparentcalls,participatinginsomecompliancevisits,etc.haveinterferedwiththeabilitytoresolvecomplaintswithinthe60day_timeline_.XLWXXYXLW Table_J  Y!  XLWXE1G ` hp x (#XE  XLWXXXLWXLWXXXLW      ` E( ` hp xG ` XEYXLWXhXLWԀ    YXLWXhYXLWXLWXhYXLW      XLWXhXLWXLWXhXLW      YXLWXhXLW  13  \    YXLWXXYXLWXLWXXYXLW  YXLWXXXLWԀThepublicagenciesOSEPvisitedusetheformdevelopedby 8 NCDPI.TheformdoesnotrequiretheIEPteamtodocumentthereasonswhyanyoptionstheagencyconsideredwererejected.However,IEPteamsinpublicagencyBdidincludethisinformationontheIEP.SomeIEPformsreviewedinpublicagencyCincludeddirectionstotheIEPteamtoprovidereasonsforoptionsrejected;however,OSEPconfirmedwithadministratorsandteachersthatthisinformationwasnotdocumentedontheIEP.XLWXXYXLW  Table_KAPPENDIX_C APP_A_TC(2ױ$ Y!  XLWX  0  3|x <6X9`("Courier NewTTd6X@DQ@<6X9`("Courier NewTTXXx6X@DQX@\  `*Times New RomanTTXXP\  P6QXP\  `*Times New RomanTTC\  P6QP;6X9`("Courier NewTTTTXXv6X@CX@xzA`ArialTTTTTT3xzP"@QP<6X9`("Courier NewTTTTU6X@DQ@(>Y$1B0  _1)  XLWXXLWXXXLWB.` hp x (#XBXLWXXYXLWXXLW<6X9`("Courier NewTT;6X9`("Courier NewTT  _1)  XLWXXLWXXXLWH4` hp x (#%'XHXLWXXYXLWXXLW??US.,cUEAz|x p @ H@EZxxZxUS??.,<6X9`("Courier NewTT;6X9`("Courier NewTT ; b1"  H4` hp x (#%'XH (#XXLWX@<XLWXXXLW@    4  A  'Ef Z6Times New Roman Regularx&(Z3P$ Y!  S&(L,l( U Y!  _YYXXO  UWWGCz| `@ HKKKK@Ee (#(#(#(#XXXXXXXLW  _@] ]  UNITEDSTATESDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATION   (#(#(#(#XX@OFFICEOFSPECIALEDUCATIONANDREHABILITATIVESERVICESXXYXLWXXXXSeptember29,1995HonorableBobR._Etheridge_SuperintendentofPublicInstructionStateDepartmentofPublicInstruction301NorthWilmingtonStreetRaleigh,NorthCarolina276012825DearMr._Etheridge_:DuringtheweekofMay1,1995,theOfficeofSpecialEducationPrograms(_OSEP_),UnitedStatesDepartmentofEducation,conductedanonsitereviewoftheNorthCarolinaDepartmentofPublicInstruction's(_NCDPI_)implementationofPartBoftheIndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationAct(PartB).Thepurposeofthereviewwastodeterminewhether_NCDPI_Ԁismeetingitsresponsibilitytoensurethatits_educational_ԀprogramsforchildrenwithdisabilitiesarebeingadministeredinamannerconsistentwiththerequirementsofPartB.Acopyofourreport,entitled"OfficeofSpecialEducationProgramsMonitoringReport:1995ReviewoftheNorthCarolinaDepartmentofPublicInstruction(Report),"isenclosed._OSEP_Ԁrecognizesthevariousinitiatives_NCDPI_ԀhastakenwithregardtoimprovingspecialeducationprogramsinNorthCarolina.Forexample,asapartofitscorrectiveactionplanrequiredby_OSEP_'s1991report,_NCDPI_ԀundertookanextensiveStatewidetrainingeffortanddevelopedmoredetailedcompliancemonitoringstandardsregardingthedevelopmentofindividualizededucationprograms(_IEPs_).Theimpactof_NCDPI_'sandpublicagencies'intensiveeffortstoimprove_IEPs_Ԁwasevidentto_OSEP_Ԁintheeightdistrictsitvisitedduringthisreview.IntheReport,_OSEP_Ԁacknowledgesotherinitiativesthat_NCDPI_Ԁhastakentoimprovespecialeducationprograms.However,ourmonitoringrevealedthatproblemsexistwithregardtotheeffectivenessof_NCDPI_'smonitoringandcomplaintmanagementprocedures.Inaddition,wenotedproblemsrelatedtotheprovisionofafreeappropriatepubliceducation,leastrestrictiveenvironment,transitionservices,dueprocessandproceduralsafeguardsandcomprehensivesystemofpersonneldevelopment.   ` XXXY@ 600INDEPENDENCEAVE.,_S.W._ԀWASHINGTON,D.C. (#( ЀOurmissionistoensureequalaccesstoeducationandtopromoteeducationalexcellencethroughouttheNation.XXYXLWXXXX  l*%* _ThepreliminaryfindingsofOSEP'sonsitecomplianceteamwerediscussedwithMr.E.LowellHarris,DirectoroftheExceptionalChildrenSupportTeam,andhisstaffatanexitconferenceheldonMay5,1995.Atthistime,NCDPIwasinvitedtoprovideanyadditionalinformationitwantedOSEPtoconsiderduringthedevelopmentoffindingsforthecompliancereport.Nofurtherinformationwasprovided.Therefore,thefindingsincludedinthisReportarefinal.InafewinstancesthisReportincludescontinuingfindingsthatwerefirstnotedinthe1991compliancereport.Forthosefindings,OSEPhasspecifiedtheactionsNCDPImusttaketocorrectthosedeficiencies.Toaddresstheremainingfindings,OSEPproposesthatNCDPIandOSEPjointlydevelopacorrectiveactionplanthatincludesthemosteffectivemethodsforbringingaboutcomplianceandimprovingprogramsforchildrenwithdisabilitiesintheState.Suchaplancouldbediscussedanddevelopedeitherinameeting,orduringatelephoneconference.WealsowillinvitearepresentativefromNorthCarolina'sSpecialEducationAdvisoryCommitteetoparticipateinthatdiscussion.NCDPI'scorrectiveactionplanmustbedevelopedwithin45daysofreceiptofthisReport.Shouldwefailtoreachagreementwithinthis45dayperiod,OSEPwillbeobligedtodevelopthecorrectiveactionplan.IntheeventNCDPIconcludes,afterconsiderationofthedatainthisReport,thatevidenceofnoncomplianceissignificantlyinaccurateandthatoneormorefindingsisinsupportable,NCDPImayrequestreconsiderationofthefinding.Insuchacase,NCDPImustsubmitreasonsforitsreconsiderationrequestandanysupportingdocumentationwithin15calendardaysofreceivingthisReport.OSEPwillreviewtherequestand,whereitagreesthatthefactscontainedintheReportareinsufficienttosupportthefinding,issuealetterofresponseinformingNCDPIthatthefindinghasbeenappropriatelyrevisedorwithdrawn.Requestsforreconsiderationofafindingwillnotdelaycorrectiveactionplandevelopmentandimplementationtimelinesforfindingsnotpartofthereconsiderationrequest.Ithankyoufortheassistanceandcooperationprovidedduringourreview.Throughoutthecourseofthemonitoringprocess,Mr.HarrisandhisstaffwereresponsivetoOSEP'srequestsforinformation,andprovidedaccesstonecessarydocumentationthatenabledOSEPstafftoacquireanunderstandingofNCDPI'svarioussystemstoimplementPartB.IalsowanttothankDr.MardieMeany,ChiefConsultantforPolicy,MonitoringandAudit,forassistingtheOSEPteam.MembersofOSEP'sstaffareavailabletoprovidetechnicalassistanceduringanyphaseofthedevelopmentandimplementationofyourcorrectiveactionplan.Pleaseletmeknowifwecanbeofassistance.ThankyouforyourcontinuedeffortstowardthegoalofimprovingeducationprogramsforchildrenwithdisabilitiesinNorthCarolina.   `     h   Sincerely, -&+    `     h     0   `     h   ThomasHehir (#(#    `     h   Director   `     h   OfficeofSpecialEducation   `     h   Programscc:Mr.E.LowellHarris  $0 ZO|     `    @' ' OFFICEOFSPECIALEDUCATIONPROGRAMS .  @GG!MONITORINGREPORT:@#1995REVIEWOF@THENORTHCAROLINADEPARTMENTOFPUBLICINSTRUCTION'S  @..IMPLEMENTATIONOFPARTBOFTHEINDIVIDUALSWITHDISABILITIESEDUCATIONACT  x`  SEPTEMBER1995  *    -&+ Ї[@"TABLEOFCONTENTS .  INTRODUCTION.......................INTRO_Tiii  ̀I.TRANSITIONSERVICES.................$TRANSITION_T$1   p   8         9% hp x (#X9  Qhh#h@*   p       Q4` hp x (#%'hXQ̀II.LEASTRESTRICTIVEENVIRONMENT............. LRE_T7  ̀III.FREEAPPROPRIATEPUBLICEDUCATION..........FAPE_T13  ̀IV.STATEEDUCATIONALAGENCYMONITORING.........SEAM_T17  ̀̀V.COMPLAINTMANAGEMENTANDDUEPROCESSAND̀PROCEDURALSAFEGUARDS.................$COMPLAINTS_T$24   -&+ [ [\Z [  ̀APPENDIX:PUBLICAGENCYKEY................APP_A_T28  Հ  H0 ]\^̀ @$ e INTRODUCTION  OSEPREVIEWPROCESS: OSEPstaffbeganitsreviewofdocumentsrelatedtoNCDPI's   specialeducationprograminFebruary1995.DuringtheweekofFebruary20,OSEPmetwithMr.E.LowellHarrisandNCDPIstaffresponsibleforadministeringtheState'sspecialeducationprogramsinordertocollectpreliminaryinformationaboutNorthCarolina'sspecialeducationsystemandbeginmakingarrangementsforOSEP'sonsitevisit.OSEPreviewedNCDPI'ssystemsforensuringthatalleducationprogramsforchildrenwithdisabilitiesforwhomNCDPIisresponsiblecomplywiththerequirementsofPartBandEDGAR.DuringtheweekofMay1,OSEPconducteditsonsitereviewofNCDPI.TheteamconductingthereviewwascomposedofGregoryCorr,NellEano,JudithGregorian,DebraSturdivantandLindaWhitsett.GregoryCorr,OSEP'scomplianceteamleader,spenttheweekatNCDPI'sofficeinRaleighreviewingcompliancedocumentsandconductinginterviewswithNCDPIstaffresponsibleforadministeringtheState'sspecialeducationprogram.MembersofOSEP'sstaffvisitedeightlocaleducationalagencieswheretheyreviewedstudentrecordsandinterviewedLEApersonnelabouttheirspecialeducationprograms.Priortothevisits,OSEPaskedeachdistricttocompleteplacementchartsbydisability,raceandtypeofplacement(e.g.,regularclass,resourceclass,etc.).DatacollectedfromthesesitevisitsareusedtosupportorclarifytheOSEPfindingsregardingthesufficiencyandeffectivenessofNCDPI'ssystems.ThroughouttheReport,OSEPmakesreferencetoinformationobtainedthroughinterviewswithteachers,relatedserviceproviders,andadministrators.Inallcases,OSEPhasestablishedthatthosepersonsinterviewedwereknowledgeableaboutandroutinelyinvolvedintheareasaboutwhichtheywerequestioned.Specifically,OSEPinterviewedonlythosespecialeducationteachersresponsibleforprovidingservicestothestudentswhoserecordswerereviewed;therelatedserviceprovidersresponsibleforprovidingtherelatedservicesdiscussedinthefindings;andtheadministratorsresponsibleforprogramsintheschoolsofthestudentswhoserecordswerereviewed.Inconductingthisreview,OSEPplacedastrongemphasisonthoserequirementsmostcloselyassociatedwithpositiveresultsforstudentswithdisabilities,andonthesystemsthatNCDPIusestomeetitsgeneralsupervisionresponsibility,includingtheprovisionofafreeappropriatepubliceducation,educationintheleastrestrictiveenvironment,transitionservicesforstudentswithdisabilitieswhoareatleastsixteenyearsofage(oryoungerifdeterminedappropriate),andNCDPI'smonitoringandcomplaintmanagementprocedures. "* #' ЇInformationgatheredbyOSEPaspartofitsmonitoringreviewdemonstratesthatNCDPIdidnot,inallinstances,establishandexerciseitsgeneralsupervisoryauthorityinamannerthatensuresthatallpublicagencieswithintheStatecomplywiththerequirementsofPartB.Wherefindingsarebased,inpart,ondatacollectedfromstudentrecordsandlocalstaffinterviews,OSEPdoesnotconcludethatthesefindingsestablishthatsimilarfindingsarepresentinallpublicagenciesinNorthCarolina.However,becauseNCDPI'ssystemsforensuringcompliancehavenotbeenfullyeffectiveforthereasonscitedinthisReport,OSEPrequiresNCDPItoundertakecertaincorrectiveactions,includingthecorrectiveactionscitedimmediatelybelow,toimproveitssystemsforensuringStatewidecompliancewithPartB. `K*fg ddd Xdd Xdd X(#(#,x@+  5hhh" _G  C5 @i i CORRECTIVEACTIONREQUIRED x`Kӈ Nhhhh;' C hhh CNB.` hp x XB 1.NCDPImustissueamemorandumtoallpublicagenciesadvisingthemofOSEP's }  findingsofdeficiency.ThememorandummustdirectpublicagenciestoreviewtheirrespectivepoliciesandprocedureswithregardtoeachofthedeficienciesidentifiedbyOSEPinordertodetermineiftheyhaveproceededinamannersimilartothosepublicagenciesforwhichOSEPfounddeficiencies.ShouldthepublicagenciesdeterminethattheircurrentpracticeisinconsistentwiththerequirementsidentifiedinNCDPI'smemo,theymustimmediatelydiscontinuethecurrentpracticeandimplementthecorrectprocedure.ThismemorandummustbesubmittedtoOSEPwithinthirtydaysoftheissuanceofthethisReport.Within15daysofOSEP'sapprovalofthememorandum,itmustbeissuedtoallpublicagenciesforwhichNCDPIisresponsible. x2.NCDPImustissueamemorandumtothoseagenciesinwhichOSEPfounddeficientpractices,asidentifiedinthisReport,requiringthosepublicagenciestoimmediatelydiscontinuethedeficientpractice(s)andsubmitdocumentationtoNCDPIthatthechangesnecessarytocomplywithPartBrequirementshavebeenimplemented.NCDPImustsendtoOSEPverificationthatallcorrectiveactionshavebeencompletedbythesepublicagencies. ThismemorandummustbesubmittedtoOSEPwithinthirty   daysoftheissuanceofthisReport.Within15daysofOSEP'sapprovalofthememorandum,itmustbeissuedtothoseagenciesinwhichOSEPfounddeficientpractices. 9-7-+#C 0  hhhh 7H.` hp x (#XH 9- INVOLVEMENTOFPARENTSANDADVOCATES: TheOSEPteamconductedfive %  meetingsinNorthCarolinatogiveparentsandotherinterestedpersonsopportunitiestoprovideinformationaboutNorthCarolina'sspecialeducationprograms.DuringtheweekofFebruary20,1995,OSEPconductedpublicmeetingsinAsheville,CharlotteandRaleigh.Inaddition,OSEPparticipatedinameeting,convenedbytheExceptionalChildren'sAssistanceCenterinDavidson,withrepresentativesofanumberofparentandadvocacyorganizationsintheState. !* #% OSEPalsoinvitedwrittenpubliccommentandreceivedapproximately60responsesfromindividualsandorganizations.OnMay1,thefirsteveningofthesitevisit,OSEPheldafocusmeetingwithparentsofyouthwithdisabilitiesenrolledatpublicagencyFinordertoheartheirimpressionsofspecialeducationservicesprovided.Althoughmostcommentersraisedconcernsabouttheprogramqualityandcompliance,itshouldbenotedthatpositivecommentsweremadeabouttheprovisionofservicesbyLEAsandabouttheresponsivenessofNCDPIstaff.SeveralthemesemergedasStatewideconcernswhenalloftheinformationobtainedfromparentsandadvocateswasanalyzed.ThoseissuesraisedbyparentsandadvocatesandinvestigatedbyOSEParebrieflysummarizedbelow.1.NCDPIdoesnoteffectivelyhandlecomplaintsorcompliancemonitoring.2.Whenstudentswithdisabilitiesarelongtermsuspended,publicagenciesdonotcontinuetoprovideservices.3.Transitionservicesarenotplannedwithcommunityagencies/sites;therearenocommunitybasedtrainingprograms.4.Appropriateextendedschoolyearservicesarenotavailable.5.ThereareshortagesinrelatedservicepersonnelresultinginafailuretoprovideFAPEtosomestudents.Inparticularlyshortsupplyarespeechtherapy,occupationaltherapyandphysicaltherapyservices.6.Insomepublicagencies,mostifnotallstudentswithmentalretardationareservedinseparateschoolfacilitiesorinageinappropriatesettings.OSEPcarefullyexaminedtheissuesraisedbyparentsandadvocates.OSEPmadefindingsofnoncomplianceregardingsomeorallaspectsofeachoftheissuesraisedabove.ThesefindingscanbefoundintheappropriatesectionsinthisReport. i DESCRIPTIONOFNCDPI'sSPECIALEDUCATIONSYSTEM: NorthCarolina'sPartB #  childcountis139,560(December1,1994),generating$58,238,977inPartBfundsforappropriationyear1996.Thereare100countyand19cityschooldistrictsintheStatethatsubmitannualapplicationsforPartBfundstoNCDPI.NCDPI'sExceptionalChildrenSupportTeam(ECST)iscomposedofaDirectorand21professionalstaff.ThefoursectionswithintheECSTarethe(1)Policy,MonitoringandAuditSection,(2)AreasofExceptionalitySection,(3)SpecialProgramsSection,and(4)WillieM. <)$"& Section. "* #' ЇThePolicy,MonitoringandAuditSectionisresponsibleforcomplaintmanagementanddueprocessaswellasthefunctionsdescribedinitstitle.TheAreasofExceptionalitySectionprovidestechnicalassistanceandtraining.TheSpecialProgramsSectionisresponsiblefortheComprehensiveSystemofPersonnelDevelopment(CSPD),localeducationalagency(LEA)applications,andStateoperatedandStatesupportedprograms.TheWillieM.Sectionis   responsibleforimplementationoftheWillieM.settlement,regardingstudentswithbehavioral  ~ problems. j INITIATIVES: ThefocusofOSEP'scompliancemonitoringisthedeterminationoftheextent H0 towhichaStateisprovidingprogramstochildrenwithdisabilitiesincompliancewiththerequirementsofPartB,andthefocusofthisReportisthespecificationoftheareasinwhichNCDPI'ssystemshavenotbeenfullyeffectiveinensuringcompliancewiththoserequirements.However,OSEPacknowledgesNCDPIforundertakingthefollowinginitiatives:1.NCDPIhasundertakenmajortechnicalassistanceandstaffdevelopmentactivitiestoaddresscomplianceissuesandeffectprogramimprovement.Inits1991reporttoNCDPI,OSEPnotedthatmanyIEPsitrevieweddidnotmeetPartBrequirements.Overthelasttwoyears,NCDPIvisitedall119LEAsandtrainedovertwothousandteachersandadministratorsusinga"trainingthetrainer"model.Inaddition,ithasdevelopedanIEPmanualthatitmakesavailabletoalldistricts.WhenOSEPreviewedIEPsduringits1995visit,itfoundnoIEPdeficienciesinareasthatpreviouslyhadbeenoutofcompliance.NCDPIprovidestechnicalassistanceintheareaofassistivetechnologyto34LEAs,reaching327teachersandadministrators.Staffdevelopmenthasbeenprovidedto68participantsinfivedistricts.NCDPIalsoproducedavideotapewhichintroducestheconceptofassistivetechnologyanddemonstrateshowitcanbeusedinschoolsettings.AdditionalsignificanttechnicalassistanceactivitieshavealsobeenundertakenwithregardtopostsecondarytransitionandLRE.ThesearebrieflydescribedinSectionsIandIIofthisReport.2.NCDPIstafftoldOSEPthatitplacesahighvalueonensuringthatitscomplianceandprogramstaffareaccessibletoLEApersonneltoprovideinformaltechnicalassistance,guidanceandadvice.InthenineteenmonthperiodpriortoOSEP'svisit,NCDPIstaffreturned14,000telephonecallsfromLEAstaff.3.NCDPIproducesnumerouspublicationsforparentsandprofessionalsonavarietyofspecialeducationtopics.Topicsaddressedincludeseriousemotionaldisturbance,effectiveinstructionforstudentswithdeafblindness,adaptivephysicaleducation,guidelinesforoccupationaltherapy,visualimpairments,visionscreening,speechlanguageguidelines,specificlearningdisabilitiesandIEPs. "* #' Ї4.SummerInstitutesareofferedeachyearinanumberofareas.Duringthesummersof1993and1994,over2,000teachersenrolledininstitutesonvisualimpairments,hearingimpairments,speechandlanguageimpairments,seriousemotionaldisturbance,multipledisabilities,severeandprofounddisabilities/deafblindness,artsforthedisabled,assistivetechnology,safeschoolsandinclusion.   ~  k]m^q^qn O  q   I.TRANSITIONSERVICES   r  NCDPIisrequiredtoensurethatallpublicagenciesdevelopandimplementanIEPfor  eachstudentwithdisabilities,beginningnolaterthanage16(andatayoungerage,ifappropriate)thatcontainsastatementofneededtransitionservices,developedinaccordancewiththerequirementsspecifiedinXLWXXYXLW''YXLWXXXLW300.18,300.344,300.345,300.346and300.347.@*  | d TRANSITIONSERVICESANDPOSTSCHOOLSUCCESS H0 TheinclusionofatransitionplanwithintheIEPsofstudents16yearsofageandolderhasbeenshowntobepositivelyrelatedtotheachievementofpostschooloutcomessuchasemployment,postsecondaryeducationandtrainingandindependentliving.Forinstance,theNationalLongitudinalTransitionStudyofSpecialEducationStudents(NLTS)hasshownthatpostschoolsuccesswasassociatedwithyouthwhohadatransitionplaninhighschoolthatspecifiedanoutcome,suchasemployment,asagoal.NORTHCAROLINA'STRANSITIONSERVICES ^F NorthCarolinahasimplementedseveralinitiativestoimprovetransitionservicesforstudentswithdisabilities.In1992,NCDPIandtheNorthCarolinaDivisionofVocationalRehabilitationServices,DepartmentofHumanResources,receivedafiveyear,Statewidesystemschangegrantfordeveloping,implementing,andimprovingtransitionservicesfromtheU.S.DepartmentofEducation,OfficeofSpecialEducationandRehabilitationServices.Duringthefirstyearofthegrant,NCDPIprovidedStatewidetrainingforalllocaleducationalagencies.Thenextyearfollowuptrainingwasprovideduponrequest.Approximately2,500personnelhavebeentrainedthroughtheseefforts.Also,NCDPIestablishedfourtransitionpilotsites.Subsequenttoimplementingtheirownprograms,LEAsmustprovidetrainingtootherdistricts.Also,NCDPIhascontractedwiththeExceptionalChildren'sAssistanceCentertoprovidetrainingtoparentstohelpthembecomemoreeffectiveinthedevelopmentandimplementationoftransitionprogramsfortheirchildren.OtherinitiativesincludethefundingofSpecialPopulationsVocationalCoordinatorsinabout300schoolsandtrainingforregularvocationaleducationteachersinmodificationofcurriculumforspecialpopulations.OSEP'SMONITORINGPROCEDURESFORTRANSITIONSERVICES p'X $ Infiveoftheeightpublicagenciesitvisited(C,D,E,FandH),OSEPfocusedonsecondaryeducationprograms.Thesecondaryprogramsincludedthreehighschoolsandtwoseparateschools.OSEPreviewedtheIEPsof27studentswhowere16orolder,interviewedthestudents'teacherswhoparticipatedintheIEPmeetings,andinterviewedtheprincipalsandadministratorsresponsiblefortheprovisionofspecialeducationservices. -&+] r  rn r  &  FINDINGS :OSEPfindsthatNCDPIdidnotensure,inallcases,thatpublicagencies  implementedpoliciesandprocedureswhichfullyimplementedtherequirementsofPartBrelativetotransition.'a 1.StatementofNeededTransitionServices    EachpublicagencyisrequiredtoensurethattheIEPforeachstudent,beginningnolaterthanage16(andatayoungerage,ifdeterminedappropriate),mustincludeastatementoftheneededtransitionservicesasdefinedinXLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.18,including,ifappropriate,astatementofeachpublicagency'sandeachparticipatingagency'sresponsibilitiesorlinkages,orboth,beforethestudentleavestheschoolsetting.IftheIEPteamdeterminesthatservicesarenotneededinoneormoreoftheareasspecifiedinXLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.18(b)(2)(i)through(b)(2)(iii),theIEPmustincludeastatementtothateffectandthebasisuponwhichthedeterminationwasmade(XLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.346(b)(2)).XXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLWt s  1     󀀀   Areviewoftherecordsofthe27studentsaged16orolderindicatedthatinsomecases,thestatementsofneededtransitionservicesdidnotincludeeachofthethreeareasrequiredby'YXLWXXXLW300.18(b)(2)(i)through(b)(2)(iii).Belowisatablethatindicatesthepublicagencies,thenumberofIEPsreviewedandthenumberofareasaddressedeitherbyspecifyingtheneedsorbyexplainingthebasisfornotincludingthearea.̀   & '  @&TABLEIA    NumberofIEPsbyPublicAgencyandtheNumberofAreasthatareIdentifiedasNeededorExplainedasNotNeeded `K   *_uv ddx@xfg(#(#_,Yd@,Itd@,td@,td@,Itd@,It@+  1hh"   C1! X!PublicAgency x`K ;hw,! qC"hh C;! d!NumberofIEPs ;hw,! qC"hw C;Includedall3Areas ;hw,! q C"hw C;Includedonly2Areas ;hw,!o W C"hw C;Includedonly1Area ?hwh,! qC"hw C?IncludedNoAreas Nhh?' qC" hwh CN! X!C ;hw,!C"hh C;! d!2 ;hw,!C"hw C;2 ;hw,!C"hw C;0 ;hw,!C"hw C;0 ?hwh,!C"hw C?0 Nwh?'C" hwh CN! X!D ;ww,!kS C"wh C;! d!6 ;ww,!kS C"ww C;3 ;ww,!kS C"ww C;2 ;ww,!kS C"ww C;1 ?wwh,!kS C"ww C?0 Nwh?'kS C" wwh CN! X!E ;ww,! C"wh C;! d!6 ;ww,! C"ww C;1 ;ww,! C"ww C;0 ;ww,! !C"ww C;5 ?wwh,! "C"ww C?0 Nwh?' #C" wwh CN! X!F ;ww,!G/ $C"wh C;! d!6 ;ww,!G/ %C"ww C;0 ;ww,!G/ &C"ww C;3 ;ww,!G/ 'C"ww C;3 ?wwh,!G/ (C"ww C?0 Nwh?'G/ )C" wwh CN! X!H ;ww,! *C"wh C;! d!7 ;ww,! +C"ww C;5 ;ww,! ,C"ww C;0 ;ww,! -C"ww C;1 ?wwh,! .C"ww C?1 Lhhh;' /C" wwh CL! X!TOTAL =hwh,!C+0C"hhh C=! d!27 =hwh,!C+1C"hwh C=11 =hwh,!C+2C"hwh C=5 =hwh,!C+3C"hwh C=10 ?hwhh,!C+4C"hwh C?1 9-x7-+C+5C" 0  hwhh 7  B.` hp x (#XB''i 9- 2.TransitionServicesParticipantsARepresentativeOfAnyOtherAgency  ?'6 Eachpublicagencyisresponsibleforensuringthat,ifthepurposeoftheIEPmeetingistheconsiderationoftransitionservices,themeetingincludesarepresentativeofanyotheragencythatislikelytoberesponsibleforprovidingorpayingfortransitionservices(XLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.344(c)(ii)).InfourofthefivepublicagencieswithsecondaryprogramsvisitedbyOSEP,OSEPfoundthatpublicagenciesdidnotdetermine,onanindividualbasis,whetherrepresentativesofotheragencieslikelytoprovideorpayfortransitionservicesshouldbeinvitedtoIEPmeetings.AtpublicagencyD,OSEPinterviewedtwoteacherswhosestudents'recordsithadreviewedandacoordinatingteacherwhoattendsschoolbasedcommitteemeetings.Oneteachersaidthatnoindividualdeterminationsweremadeabouttheappropriatenessofinvitingrepresentativesofotheragenciesandthat,inherexperience,suchrepresentativeswereneverinvitedtoattendIEPmeetingswherestatementsoftransitionservicesweredeveloped.Asecondteacherstatedthatinsomecases,representativesofashelteredworkshopandrepresentativesofthevocationalrehabilitationagencyhadbeeninvolvedinIEPmeetings,butusuallynotuntilthestudenthadturned18.Theteacherreportedthatnoindividualdeterminationsweremadeforstudentsundertheageof18.Acoordinatingteacherwhoattendsschoolbasedcommitteesaddedthat,unlesssocialservicesorcorrectionalagenciesareinvolved,individualdeterminationsarenotmaderegardingtheappropriatenessofinvitingrepresentativesofotheragenciestoIEPmeetings. +$K AtpublicagencyE,twoteachersandthespecialeducationdirectortoldOSEPthatthepublicagencydidnotindividuallydeterminewhetherrepresentativesofotherpublicagenciesshouldbeinvitedtoIEPmeeting.Eventhougharepresentativeofthevocationalrehabilitationagencythatcouldpayorprovidetransitionservicesworkedintheschoolbuilding,thispersonwasnotinvitedtoattendIEPmeetingsandparticipateinthedevelopmentoftransitionstatements.TwoteachersandthespecialeducationdirectoratpublicagencyFtoldOSEPthat,ataboutage18,studentsarereferredtothevocationalrehabilitationagency,butthattherewasnoattemptmade,onanindividualbasisbeginningwhenastudentturns16,toinvitetoIEPmeetingsrepresentativesofotheragenciesresponsibleforprovidingorpayingfortheprovisionoftransitionservices.AtpublicagencyH,ateachertoldOSEPthatrepresentativesofthevocationalrehabilitationagencyareinvitedtoIEPmeetingsforseniorswhowillbeexitingtheprogrambutthatforstudents16yearsandolderwhowerenotyetseniors,nodeterminationsweremaderegardingtheappropriatenessofinvitingrepresentativesofotherrepresentatives.PublicagencyH'sspecialeducationdirectorconfirmedthisinformation. x 3.NoticeRequirements D,  PartBrequiresthatifthepurposeoftheIEPmeetingincludestheconsiderationoftransitionservicesforthestudent,thenoticemustindicatethispurposeandstatethattheagencywillinvitethestudent(XLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.345(b)(2)(iii)).NoticesdidnotindicatepurposeofIEPmeeting  ЀOSEPfoundthatinmostinstancesthenoticesusedbypublicagenciesD,E,FandHtoinformparentsofIEPmeetingsdidnotspecifythatapurposeofthemeetingistheconsiderationoftransitionservices,whenthosenoticeswereformeetingsforstudentswhowere16yearsorolder.TableIB,below,showsthenumberofIEPnoticesnotincludingtransitionasapurposeofthemeeting,ascomparedtothetotalnumberofnoticesreviewed.Noticesdidnotindicatethatstudentswereinvited #  OSEPfoundthatinsomecases,publicagencies'noticesusedtoinformparentsofIEPmeetingsdidnotindicatethatstudentswereinvitedtoIEPmeetingsinwhichtransitionstatementsweretobedeveloped.AtpublicagencyE,OSEPreviewedsixrecordsandfoundthattheIEPmeetingnoticesdidnotindicatethatthestudentwouldbeinvitedtoparticipateinthemeeting.Thespecialeducationdirectorconfirmedthatbecauseitwasnottheagency'spracticetoinvitestudents,aged16and +#( older,toIEPmeetings,noticesdidnotincludethisinformation.PublicagenciesFandHdidnotconsistentlyensurethatIEPnoticesindicatedthatstudents,agedsixteenorolder,wouldbeinvitedtoattendIEPmeetings.AtpublicagencyF,fourofsixrecordsOSEPrevieweddidnotmeetthisrequirement,andatpublicagencyH,threeofsevenrecordsdidnotmeetthisrequirement.OSEPwastoldthatbythesestudents'teachersthatalthoughstudentswereverballyinvited,thenoticedidnotconsistentlyindicatethatstudentswouldbeinvitedtoIEPmeetingswheretheconsiderationoftransitionserviceswastobediscussed.& O @& TABLEIB  .   @ NumberofIEPNoticesNotIncludingTransition   @N N asPurposeofMeetingorThatStudentWouldBeInvited,@ ComparedtoTotalNumberofNoticesReviewed 3XXy(Y mKӈ   *z{ ddYd@YItd@Itd@td@Itd@IIt@Iuv(#(#,td@,td@,td@,td@,td@,td@,t@+  1ww"   C1$` X$ Information g  NotIndicatedinNotice ?ww0!K3C"ww C?6` hX6 PublicAgency xmK Bwwh/$g C"ww CB xTOTAL mK Nw?'K3C" wwh CN$` X$ xmK ;ww,!Cw C;$ X$C ;ww,!C"ww C;D ;ww,!C"ww C;E ;ww,!C"ww C;F ;ww,!C"ww C;H ?wh,!C"ww C? Nhw?'C wh CN$` X$Purpose ;hw,!G/C"hw C;0 x G/ $ X$2 x ;hw,!-C"hw C;6 x G/  6 x ;hw,!-!C"hw C;6 x G/" 6 x ;hw,!-#C"hw C;4 x G/$ 6 x ;hw,!-%C"hw C;7 x G/& 7 x ?hwh,!-'C"hw C?23 x G/( 27 x Lwwh;'-)C" hwh CL$` X$StudentInvited =wwh,!*C"wwh C=0 x + $ X$2 x =wwh,!i,C"wwh C=0 x - 6 x =wwh,!i.C"wwh C=6 x / 6 x =wwh,!i0C"wwh C=4 x 1 6 x =wwh,!i2C"wwh C=3 x 3 7 x ?wwhh,!i4C"wwh C?13 x 5 27 A-7-+i6C" 0  wwhh 7B.` hp x (#XB'O.Ӎ A-  I 19 TRO'3+ X3' Letter'3 Letter Landscape3'TQ=` hp x (#%'0*,.XQ mK|*}~ ddtd@td@td@td@td@td@t@z{..,d@,td@,= td@,td@,?t@+  1hh" I1 C1$` X$FINDING/FEDERALREQUIREMENT xmK ;hw,! Chh C;6` hX6EXPECTEDOUTCOME/ACTIONREQUIRED ;hw,!Chw C;ACTIVITIESTOMEETOUTCOMEREQUIREMENT ;hw,! C"hw C; ) RESOU )     RCES ?hwh,!  Chw C?TIMELINEFORSUBMISSION Nwh?' C hwh CN$` X$ Transition x   1.StatementofneededtransitionservicesrequiredIEPcontent[4 y(''y( 4300.18,300.346(b)] x ;ww,!A) Cwh C;6` hX6Beginningnolaterthanage16(andatayoungerage,ifdeterminedappropriate),publicagenciesmustincludeastatementoftheneededtransitionservicesasdefinedin4 y(' xxy( 4300.18.IftheIEPteamdeterminesthatservicesarenotneededinoneormoreoftheareasspecifiedin xx4 y(' xxy( 4300.18(b)(2)(i)through(b)(2)(iii),theIEPmustincludeastatementtothateffectandthebasisuponwhichthedeterminationwasmade( xx4 y(' xxy( 4300.346(b)(2)). ;ww,!A) !Cww C; xx ;ww,! "Cww C; ?wwh,! #Cww C? Nwh?' $C wwh CN$` X$ 2.Meeting % participants[4 y(' xxy( 4300.344(c)(ii)] x {c'  x ;ww,!aI(Cwh C;6` hX6IfthepurposeoftheIEPmeetingisconsiderationoftransitionservices,thepublicagencymustinvitearepresentativeofanyotheragencythatislikelytoberesponsibleforprovidingorpayingfortransitionservices. ;ww,!G/-Cww C; ;ww,!.Cww C; ?wwh,!/Cww C? Lwhh;'0C wwh CL$` X$ 3.Contentof 1 notice[4 y(' xxy( 4300.345(b)(2)(iii)] =wwh,!gO4Cwhh C= xx6` hX6ThenoticeofIEPmeetingstoconsidertheprovisionoftransitionservicesmustindicatethat:(1)suchconsiderationisapurposeofthemeeting;and(2)thestudentwillbeinvited. =wwh,!gO8Cwwh C= =wwh,!9Cwwh C= ?wwhh,!:Cwwh C? A-x7-+;C 0  wwhh 7  }e; | |d |  TRX3'* O'3+ 3' Letter'3 Letter LandscapeTB.` hp x (#XBXX3 q1-A-YXLWXXyXn @    II.PLACEMENTINLEASTRESTRICTIVEENVIRONMENT q1-ӈ  NCDPIisrequiredtoensurethatpublicagenciesestablishandimplementprocedureswhichmeettherequirementsofXLWXXYXLW''YXLWXXXLW300.550300.553,regardingtheplacementofstudentswithdisabilitiesintheleastrestrictiveenvironment(LRE).XLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.550(a).Sections300.554,300.555and300.556setforthrequirementswhichmustbemetbyNCDPI. BackgroundInits1991monitoringreporttoNCDPI,OSEPmadesignificantfindingswith | d regardtoLRErequirements.Forinstance,Stateprocedureslimitedplacementoptionsforcertaincategoriesofdisability.Theonlyplacementoptionsforstudentsidentifiedas"trainablementallyhandicapped,""severely/profoundlyhandicapped,""autistic"and"multihandicapped"wereseparateclassesorseparatefacilities.XXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLW s  2     WhenOSEPcollecteddatainLEAs,itfoundthat,in   somecases,theplacementpracticesofthosedistrictsreflectedthedeficientStateprocedures.Additionally,OSEPfoundthatremovalfromtheregulareducationalenvironmentwasoftenbasedonthecategoryofdisability,leveloffunctioning,availabilityofspaceandthewillingnessoflocalschoolstafftoacceptsomechildrenwithdisabilitiesinlessrestrictivesettings.     DuringOSEP's1995visit,NCDPIstaffstatedthatinclusionintheregulareducationenvironmenthasbeenamajoremphasisofitstechnicalassistanceandstaffdevelopmentefforts.Technicalassistancewasprovidedtoall119LEAsinvolving2,005participants.BeginninginJuly1994,staffdevelopmentactivitieswerealsoconductedineverydistrictandinvolved4,657teachersandadministrators.Inaddition,NCDPIpurchasedthreetextsoninclusionforeachofthe119LEAstouseasreferences.  PlacementtrendsinNorthCarolinashowanincreaseinthenumberofstudentseducatedintheregularclassroomoverathreeschoolyearperiod,199091to199293.XXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLW s  3     Acorresponding  decreaseintheuseofresourceplacementsisnotedoverthissameperiod.However,placementsinseparateclassesandseparatefacilitiesshowedverylittlechange:placementinseparateclassesincreasedslightlywhileplacementsinseparatefacilitiesdecreasedonlyslightlyduringthistimeperiod.    &!      &  @11&TABLEII  @ PlacementTrendsinNorthCarolinabyPercent `Kӈ* ddd@td@= td@= td@?t@?}~(#(#, d@,td@,td@,Et@+  7hh" /  C7 *` X* x`K Ahw,! C"hh CA' ` X'199091 Ahw,! C"hw CA199192 Ahwh,! C"hw CA199293 Nwh?' C" hwh CN*` X*Regularclass ;ww,!E -C"wh C;' ` X'51.57 ;ww,!E -C"ww C;54.17 ?wwh,!E - C"ww C?55.49 Nwh?'E - C" wwh CN*` X*Resourceroom ;ww,!  C"wh C;' ` X'28.17 ;ww,!  C"ww C;25.69 ?wwh,!  C"ww C?24.08 Nwh?' C" wwh CN*` X*Separateclass ;ww,!! C"wh C;' ` X'16.57 ;ww,!! C"ww C;16.84 ?wwh,!! C"ww C?17.17 Lwhh;'! C" wwh CL*` X*SeparateschoolXXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLW s  4      =wwh,!wC"whh C=' ` X'3.36 =wwh,!wC"wwh C=3.02 ?wwhh,!wC"wwh C?2.86 9-x7-+wC" 0  wwhh 7B.` hp x (#XB 9-FINDINGS:  s   A.[''YXLWXXXLW300.550(b),300.551,and300.552(a)(2)]  W?  OSEPfoundthatNCDPIdidnotfullymeetitsresponsibilityinallofthepublicagenciesvisitedbyOSEPtoensurethattherequirementsofXLWXXYXLW''YXLWXXXLW300.550(b),300.551,300.552(a)(2),and300.552(b)aremet.XXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLW s  5     NCDPIdidnotensurethat:  !YXLWXXXLWtothemaximumextentappropriate,studentswithdisabilitiesareeducatedwithstudentswhoarenotdisabled;XLWXXYXLW!YXLWXXXLWthedecisiontoremovestudentswithdisabilitiesfromtheregulareducationclassroomisbasedonadeterminationthat,duetothenatureorextentofthedisability,thestudent'seducationcannotnotbeachievedsatisfactorily,evenwiththeuseofsupplementaryaidsandservices; % XLWXXYXLW!YXLWXXXLWacontinuumofalternativeplacementsisavailabletomeettheneedsofstudentswithdisabilities;and̀XLWXXYXLW!YXLWXXXLWtheplacementdecisionisbasedoneachstudent'sIEP.Thesefindingsarebaseduponthereviewofplacementdataprovidedbyallofthepublicagencies,thereviewofstudentrecords,andinterviewswithresponsibleadministratorsandteacherswhoparticipatedinmeetingsinwhichplacementdecisionsweremade.TheplacementdataprovidedtoOSEPbythepublicagenciesshowedthatforstudentsidentifiedastrainablementallyhandicapped(TMH)andsevereandprofoundlyhandicapped(SPH),onlythemorerestrictiveoptionsonthecontinuumofalternativeplacementsareavailable.IninterviewswithOSEP,teachersandadministratorsconfirmedthatthesestudentsareplacedonlyinseparateschoolprogramsorseparateclassesinregulareducationbuildingsotherthantheschoolstheywouldattendifnotdisabled.Inmostcases,theseplacementswerenotbasedonIEPs,butratheronthebasisofastudent'sdisabilitylabel,availabilityofservices,ortheparent'spreference.OSEPalsowastoldthatstudentswithmoderatetoseveredisabilitiesareremovedfromregularclassroomsintheirneighborhoodschoolstomorerestrictivesettings(i.e.,separateclassesorseparatefacilities)withoutfirstconsideringwhetherthestudentcouldbeeducatedsatisfactorilyintheregularclassroomwiththeprovisionofsupplementaryaidsandservices.Althoughtheprovisionofspecialeducationinstructioninregulareducationclasses(i.e.,specialeducationinstructionpursuanttoanIEP,withoutremovaltoaspecialeducationsetting)isconsideredforstudentswithmilddisabilities(suchasstudentswithlearningdisabilities),thisoptionisnotconsideredforstudentswithmoderatetosignificantdisabilities.Itwasconfirmedbyadministratorsandteachersinterviewedinallofthepublicagenciesvisitedthattherearenoattemptsmadetomodifytheinstructionorcurriculumprovidedinregulareducationclassestoaccommodatestudentswithmoderatetoseveredisabilities.Thereasonsgivenfornotconsideringorprovidingintegrationopportunitiesforthesestudentsonanindividualbasiswere:(1)assistantsarenotavailableforthesestudentstoparticipateinregulareducationclasses;(2)alackofnecessarytrainingforbothregularandspecialeducationteachers;and(3)conflictsbetweentheregularclassscheduleandspecialeducationservicesschedule.Itwasalsoreportedthatparentswerereluctanttohavetheirchildrenplacedinregulareducationclassesbecausetheservicesandsupportsthesestudentsneededwereavailableonlyinseparateclassroomsandseparatefacilities.Becauseitisthepracticeofthesepublicagenciestoprovideservicestothesestudentsonlyinseparateclassroomsandseparateschools,otherthantheschoolthatthestudentwouldattendifnondisabled,individualconsiderationisnotgiventowhethertheIEPcanbeimplementedinalessrestrictivesetting. +#( Forinstance,inpublicagenciesEandC,moststudentslabeledTMHwereplacedinseparatefacilities.AdministratorsinpublicagencyEstatedthatalthoughabout30studentslabeledTMHhadbeenmovedtoseparateclassesinregulareducationbuildings,theremainderwerestillplacedinseparateschoolprogramsbecausethevocationalprogrammingandfunctionalcurriculumthesestudentsneededwerenotprovidedinlessrestrictivesettings.Alsocitedasreasonsforseparateschoolplacementswerethestudents'poorsocialskills.OSEPwastoldthatparentspreferredtheseseparateschoolsbecauseoftheavailabilityofservices,includingan"aftercare"programprovidedaftertheregularschoolday,weremadeavailableonlyinthesefacilities.AdministratorsinpublicagencyCclarifiedthatallbuttwoofitsstudentslabeledTMHwereplacedinaseparateschoolprogramwhichexclusivelyservesstudentswithdisabilities,kindergartenthroughgrade12.TheadministratorsexplainedtoOSEPthatnoconsiderationisgiventoimplementingthestudent'sIEPinlessrestrictivesettingsbecausethefunctionalcurriculumthesestudentsneedisonlyavailableintheseparateschoolprogram.AlthoughpublicagencyHhadbeguntoprovideforintegrationofstudentslabeledTMHinregulareducationactivities,theopportunitieswerelimitedanddependentonthevolunteereffortsofregularprogramstudentswhoassiststudentslabeledTMHinregulareducationsettings.AdministratorsandteachersinpublicagencyHtoldOSEPthatinaregularhighschool,ateacherorganizedaclubinwhich20nondisabledstudentshavevolunteeredtoworkoneononewithstudentslabeledTMHtofacilitatetheirparticipationinselectedregulareducationactivities.InaninterviewwithOSEP,onepublicagencyHteacherstatedthatthroughthis"buddysystem,"nondisabledclubmemberscouldprovideassistancetostudentslabeledTMHinregulareducationclassesandactivities.Otherthanthroughtheclub,therearenoopportunitiesforthesestudentstoparticipateinregulareducationclasses.̀ B.[XLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.552(a)(1)]  v OSEPfoundthatNCDPIdidnotfullymeetitsresponsibilitytoensurethatpublicagenciesdetermineplacementsatleastannuallyasrequiredbyXLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.552(a)(1).AdministratorsandteachersinpublicagenciesC,D,FandHreportedtoOSEPthateducationalplacementdecisionsforstudentswithdisabilitieswerenotdeterminedatleastannually.AnadministratorandtwoteachersinpublicagencyCinformedOSEPthatplacementdeterminationsarereviewedafterthetriennialreevaluationunlessthechild'sparentswantaprogramchangepriortothereevaluation.AnadministratorandoneteacherfrompublicagencyDstatedthatplacementsforstudentswithdisabilitiesaredeterminedatthetimeofinitialplacementintothespecialeducationprogramandthereafteratthreeyearintervalscoincidingwiththetimeofthestudent'sreevaluation,unlessspecialcircumstancesariseindicatingthatachangemaybeneeded.TeachersfrompublicagenciesFandHtoldOSEPthattheIEPteamdoesnotreconsiderthestudent'splacementuntilthestudentisreadyforahigherfunctioningprogram,orthestudent"agesout"tothenextlevel. +#( Ї C.[XLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.553]   OSEPfoundthatNCDPIdidnotfullymeetitsresponsibilitytoensurethatallofthepublicagenciesvisitedbyOSEPmadeindividualdeterminationsofthemaximumextenttowhichitwasappropriate,foreachchildwithadisabilitytoparticipatewithchildrenwhodonothavedisabilitiesinnonacademicandextracurricularservicesandactivitiesasrequiredbyXLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.553.AdministratorsfrompublicagenciesB,C,D,E,GandHreportedthattherearenoopportunitiesforstudentswithdisabilitieswhoareservedinseparateschoolstoparticipatewithnondisabledstudentsinnonacademicandextracurricularactivities.ItwasfurtherexplainedtoOSEPbyadministratorsandteachersfrompublicagenciesA,D,F,GandHthatTMH,SPHandMHstudentsplacedinseparateclassroomsinregulareducationbuildingswereprovidedlittleopportunityforintegrationinnonacademicandextracurricularactivities.Usuallysuchopportunitiesoccuronlyatlunch;however,inpublicagencyF,lunchforthesestudentswasprovidedseparatelyfromstudentswhodonothavedisabilities.PublicagencyDadministratorsandteachersreportedtoOSEPthatalthoughintegrationopportunitiesinartandmusicclasseshadbeenprovidedforstudentslabeledTMHinpreviousyears,thatthisyearithadbeendiscontinuedduetoschedulingconflicts.̀3XXy(Y  ^F   D, TRO'3+ X3'* '3 Letter Landscape3' LetterTQ=` hp x (#%'0*,.XQ mK* dd d@ td@td@Et@E..,d@,td@,= td@,td@,?t@+  1hh" I1 C1$` X$FINDING/FEDERALREQUIREMENT xmK ;hw,! Chh C;6` hX6EXPECTEDOUTCOME/ACTIONREQUIRED ;hw,!Chw C;ACTIVITIESTOMEETOUTCOMEREQUIREMENT ;hw,!  C"hw C; ) RESOU )     RCES ?hwh,!  Chw C?TIMELINEFORSUBMISSION Nwh?' C hwh CN$` X$A.RemovalfromtheRegularEducationEnvironmentandContinuumofAlternativePlacementstoImplementIEP[4 y('' xxy( 4300.550(b)and300.551. ;ww,! Cwh C; xx9 ` hX9Tothemaximumextentappropriate,studentswithdisabilities,areeducatedwithnondisabledstudents; xThedecisiontoremovestudentswithdisabilitiesfromtheregulareducationclassroomisbasedonanindividualdeterminationthatthenatureandseverityofthestudent'sdisabilityissuchthateducationintheregularclassroom,evenwiththeuseofsupplementaryaidsandservices,couldnotbeachievedsatisfactorily;andAcontinuumofalternativeplacementsisavailabletomeettheneedsofchildrenwithdisabilitiesforspecialeducationandrelatedservices.6` hX6 x ;ww,!s+Cww C;NCDPImustdevelopspecificprocedureswhichwillresultinfullimplementationoftheLRErequirements.TheproceduresmustincludeamethodtoverifythattheimplementationofLRErequirementshasresultedinplacementpatternsthatreflectanincreaseintheuseoflessrestrictiveplacements,particularlyforthosestudentsindisabilitycategoriescurrentlyplacedpredominantlyinseparateclassesandseparatefacilities. ;ww,!=%>Cww C; ?wwh,! ?Cww C? Nwh?' @C wwh CN     $` X$ B.Placement  determined annuallyandbasedonIEP x[4 y('y( 4300.552(a)(1)and(2)] x ;ww,! Cwh C;9 ` hX9Theplacementdecisionisdeterminedatleastannually;andbasedonthestudent'sIEP. x6` hX6 x ;ww,!l T Cww C; ;ww,! Cww C; ?wwh,! Cww C? Lwhh;' C wwh CL$` X$ C.Nonacademic  t  andExtracurricularActivitieswithNondisabledPeers[4 y(' xxy( 4300.553] =wwh,!  Cwhh C= xx6` hX6Theremustbeconsiderationofthemaximumextenttowhichstudentswithdisabilitiescanparticipateinextracurricularornonacademicprogramsandactivitieswiththeirnondisabledpeers.Aspecialfocusofthisactivitymustincludeconsiderationofsuchparticipationforthosestudentswhohavebeenremovedfromtheregulareducationenvironmenttoseparateclassesorseparateschools. =wwh,! Cwwh C= =wwh,! tCwwh C= ?wwhh,! tCwwh C? A-x7-+ tC 0  wwhh 7    TRX3'* O'3+ 3' Letter'3 Letter LandscapeTB.` hp x (#XBXX3 q1-A-YXLWXXyXn @@ @   III. FREEAPPROPRIATEPUBLICEDUCATION  q1-ӈ   NCDPIisresponsibleforensuringthatafreeappropriatepubliceducation(FAPE)isavailabletoallchildrenwithdisabilitieswithintheState,andmustensurethateachstudentwithadisabilityreceivestherelatedservicesthatarerequiredtoassistthechildtobenefitfromspecialeducationasrequiredbyXLWXXYXLW''YXLWXXXLW300.300and300.16(a).   ~  PreviousFinding  b J WhenOSEPmonitoredNCDPIin1990,itfoundthatNCDPIdidnotmeetitsgeneralresponsibilityunderXLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.300toensurethateachchildwithadisability:(1)receivedrelatedservicesnecessarytobenefitfromspecialeducation;and(2)wereprovidedwithaschooldaythatiscommensurateinlengthtothatprovidedforstudentswhodonothavedisabilities,unlesstheIEPspecifiestheneedforashortenedschoolday. FINDING: Basedonthefactsprovidedbelow,OSEPfindsthatNCDPIdidnotconsistently z  meetitsresponsibilityunderXLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.300toensurethateachstudentwithadisabilityreceivestherelatedservicesthatarerequiredtoassistthechildtobenefitfromspecialeducationandisprovidedwithafreeappropriatepubliceducationevenduringperiodsoflongtermsuspensionorexpulsion.XLWXXYXLW''YXLWXXXLW300.300and300.16(a). (1)RelatedServicesNotProvided   TeachersandadministratorsfrompublicagenciesFandHtoldOSEPthat,duetoashortageofserviceproviders,somestudentswerenotreceivingtherelatedservicesspecifiedonIEPsandneededtobenefitfromspecialeducation. PublicagencyF 󄀀ThespecialeducationdirectorofpublicagencyFtoldOSEPthat14students ZB inthepublicagencywerenotreceivingoccupationaltherapy(OT),asspecifiedontheirIEPs,thattheyneededtobenefitfromspecialeducation.Thepublicagencyhasonlyoneoccupationaltherapistonstaffandprovidessomeadditionalservicesonacontractualbasis.Thedirectorexplainedthathehadadvertisednationallybuthadbeenunsuccessfulinhiringadditionaltherapists.Heattributedpartoftheproblemwithhiringmoretherapiststothe"lowStatesalaryscale."Inaddition,13studentswerenotreceivingnecessaryspeechservicesincludedintheirIEPsbecauseofstaffshortages.ThedirectorsaidthatpublicagencyFhasfounditincreasinglydifficulttofindandretainspeechandlanguagetherapistsbecauseoflowsalaries.Formerly,thepublicagencyhadbeenabletomeetitsneedforservicewithitsownstaff.Nowapproximatelyhalfofthespeechservicesprovidedbythepublicagencyaredeliveredonacontractualbasis.TeachersinterviewedbyOSEPaddedthatIEPteamsdeterminedtheamountofspeechservicestheirstudentsreceivedbasedontheavailabilityofthetherapists'services,notontheneedsofthestudents.Oneteacherstatedthatstudentswhoreceivespeechonlyonceeverytwoweeksneed +#(  e    moreservice,butthatIEPteamswereunabletospecifytheneededamountofservicesonIEPbecauseofshortages.Anotherteacherstatedthattwostudentswerenotreceivingconsultativeservicesfromavisualimpairment(VI)teacher,despitethefactthattheneedforthatservicewasincludedintheirIEPs.Theprincipalconfirmedthat,tohisknowledge,theservicesofaVIteacherhadnotbeenmadeavailabletostudentsinhisschoolwhoseIEPsspecifiedthoseservices.?+  hp x (#X? PublicAgencyH 󀄀ThespecialeducationdirectorofpublicagencyHreportedtoOSEPthatin H0 thatpublicagency,thereweresevenstudentsnotreceivingOTservicesandfivestudentsnotreceivingphysicaltherapy(PT)servicesspecifiedintheirIEPs.Thepublicagencyhadpersonnelvacanciesinthefollowingareas:  OT 2fulltimeemployees(FTEs)     PT  h 3.5FTEs     Audiologists1FTEInaddition,theprincipalattheelementaryschoolvisitedbyOSEPstatedthatstudentswhoneededcounselingasarelatedservicedidnothavethisservicespecifiedintheirIEPsbecausetheagencydidnotmakecounselingavailable.Instead,thestudentswerereferredtothecommunitymentalhealthagency,andparentswereexpectedtotaketheirchildrentotheircounselingappointments.However,insomecases,studentswerenotreceivingcounselingservicesbecauseparentswerenottakingtheirchildrentothecounselingappointments.XXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLW s  6       & A (2)ContinuationofServicesforStudentsLongTermSuspendedor  Expelled   BackgroundThroughaNovember30,1994letterfromtheNorthCarolinaGovernor'sAdvisory v CouncilforPersonswithDisabilities,OSEPlearnedthatsomepublicagenciesintheState t\ incorrectlyunderstoodthattheyhadnoobligationtocontinuetheprovisionofservicestoastudentwithadisabilitywhohasbeensuspendedlongtermorexpelledformisconductnotrelatedtoastudent'sdisability.InaJanuary6,1995letter,OSEPinformedNCDPIthatitistheDepartment'spolicythat,undertheFAPErequirementsofPartB,at20U.S.C.'YXLWXXXLW1412(1)(2),allStatesreceivingfundsunderPartBmustcontinuetoprovideeducationalservicestostudentswithdisabilitiesduringperiodsoflongtermsuspensionorexpulsionfromschoolformisconductthatisdeterminedtobeunrelatedtotheirdisability.InanApril20,1995letter,NCDPIinformedOSEPthattheStateBoardofEducationhadapprovedanamendmenttoits199698Stateplanthatwould,asofJuly1,1995,reviseSection.1523DisciplinaryProceduresofProceduresGoverningProgramsandServicesforChildrenwithSpecialNeedstoconformtothe .  requirementsofPartB.ItalsostatedthatamemorandumofnotificationoftheBoard'sactionwouldbesenttoalllocalsuperintendentswithinamonth.XXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLW s  7         FINDING: SpecialeducationdirectorsfrompublicagenciesA,CandH,informedOSEPthat   theydidnotensurethatservicescontinuedtobeprovidedtostudentswithdisabilitiesduringperiodsoflongtermsuspensionorexpulsionfromschool.AtpublicagencyH,parentsarenotifiedthatiftheywanttheirchildtoreceiveservicesduringalongtermsuspension,theyshouldcontacttheschoolsystem.Otherwise,noservicesareprovided.AtpublicagenciesAandC,thespecialeducationdirectorssaidthattheywouldbechangingtheirpolicies,effectiveforthenextschoolyear,butthatthecurrentpolicywastosuspendwithoutserviceswhenadeterminationwasreachedthattherewasnorelationshipbetweenthemisconductandthedisability.NCDPIhasnomethodofmonitoringtoensurethatstudentswhoareproperlysuspendedlongtermorexpelled,continuetoreceiveFAPE(seepage MON_SUSPEN 21  ).  v TRO'3+ X3'* '3 Letter Landscape3' LetterTW: hp x (#%'0*,. XW3XXy( 4 mK* ddd@td@= td@= td@?t@?..,d@,td@,= td@,td@,?t@+  1hh" I1 C1* 4  X*FINDING/FEDERALREQUIREMENT xmK ;hw,! Chh C;3` h3EXPECTEDOUTCOME/ACTIONREQUIRED ;hw,!Chw C;*` X*ACTIVITIESTOMEETOUTCOMEREQUIREMENT ;hw,! C"hw C; ;) RESOU ;)     RCES ?hwh,!  Chw C?TIMELINEFORSUBMISSION Nwh?' C hwh CN! 4 X! NCDPIis   responsibleforensuringthatFAPEisavailabletoallchildrenwithdisabilitieswithintheState,andmustensurethateachstudentwithadisabilityreceivestherelatedservicesthatarerequiredtoassistthechildtobenefitfromspecialeducationasrequiredby4 y('' xxy( 4300.300and300.16(a). mKx ;ww,!W? Cwh C;3` h3Wheretheprovisionofrelatedservicesisnecessaryforastudentwithadisabilitytobenefitfromspecialeducation,suchservicesmustbeprovidedasapartofthestudent'sFAPE.Wherethepublicagencyisexperiencingpersonnelshortages,othermethods,suchascontractingforserviceswithprivateproviders,mustbeusedtoensurethedeliveryofFAPE. xmK ;ww,![C (Cww C;*` X* ;ww,! )Cww C; ?wwh,! *Cww C? Lhh;' +C wwh CL! 4 X! =wwh,!,Chh C=3` h3PublicagenciescontinuetomakeFAPEavailabletostudentswhohavebeenproperlysuspendedlongtermorexpelled. =wwh,!y/Cwwh C=*` X* =wwh,!0Cwwh C= ?wwhh,!1Cwwh C? A-x7-+2C 0  wwhh 7 xT       TRX3'* O'3+ 3' Letter'3 Letter LandscapeTB.` hp x (#XBXX3 q1-A-YXLWXXyXn @N N   IV.STATEEDUCATIONALAGENCYMONITORING  q1-ӈ  ?+  hp x (#X?0     NCDPIisresponsiblefortheadoptionanduseofeffectivemethodstomonitor  publicagenciesresponsibleforcarryingoutspecialeducationprograms.20U.S.C.XLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW1232d(b)(3).AStateshallkeeprecordstoshowitscompliancewithprogramrequirements.XLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW76.731.  ~(#(# BackgroundInits1991monitoringreporttoNCDPI,OSEPfoundthatNCDPIhadno,or b J incomplete,methodsfordeterminingcompliancewithcertainFederalrequirements.NCDPIsubsequentlyreviseditsmonitoringprocedureswhichwereapprovedbyOSEPin1992.NCDPImonitorseverydistrictandStateoperatedorStatesupportedprogramduringafiveyearcycle.Theminimumlengthofavisitisadayandahalfforsmalldistricts,whilevisitstolargerdistrictscantakeaweekormore.NCDPI'sproceduresforitsProgramComplianceAudit(PCA)includethefollowingsteps:0     1.Desktopaudit 󀄀EachLEAisrequiredtocompilecomplianceinformationforadesk x` topauditwhichoccursonemonthpriortotheonsitevisit.Thedesktopauditisusedtocollectinformationinthefollowingnineareas:childidentification;righttoeducation;nondiscriminatorytesting;LRE;pupilteacherratios;proceduralsafeguards;personnelcertificationandqualifications;CSPD;andfacilities.TheLEAspecialeducationdirectorisinvitedtotheNCDPIofficesinRaleightodiscussinformationinthedesktopauditandinthePCANotebook. (#(# 0     2.Onsitevisit 󀄀OneofthreeNCDPImonitoringstaffleadsallvisitsandareassigned  onthebasisoftechnicalassistanceregions.XXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLW s  8     Theteamsarecomposedofvolunteer v membersfromdistrictsotherthantheonebeingmonitored.ThevolunteerteamsmayincludeLEAdirectors,principals,andteachersandvaryinsizefromthreeto15members.Trainingconsistsofaclosedonehoursessionatthebeginningoftheonsitevisit.Atthetrainingsessionmonitoringteamleadersreviewtheagendaandmonitoringprocedures. (#(# 0     TheonsitevisitbeginswiththeProgramAdministratorInterview.OtherLEAstaffmayattendthissessionatthediscretionoftheprogramadministrator.Theinterviewcoversanumberoftopicsincludingtheavailabilityofservices,nondiscriminatorytesting,IEPmeetings,confidentiality,anddueprocessprocedures.&r#(#(#      0     StudentrecordsfromeverydisabilitycategoryarereviewedfollowingtheProgramAdministratorInterview.Compliance/noncompliancedeterminationsaremadeacrossatleastfivemajorareasincludingconfidentiality,referral,evaluation/reevaluation,placement/changeinplacementandIEP.Inaddition,afiscalreviewor"headcountaudit"hasbeenincludedinNCDPI'sProgramComplianceReview.Previously,thisactivitywasnottheresponsibilityofECST,butwasconductedasanindependentactivitybythefiscalofficeofNCDPI.LEAsmustreturnfundstoNCDPIwhenitisdetermined,onthebasisofthefilereview,that:(1)theIEPwasnotineffectontheheadcountdate;(2)therewasnodocumentationofconsentforplacement;or(3)therewasnodocumentationofplacementcommitteesignaturesforinitialplacementorreevaluation.Also,thedistrictisrequiredtosubmitafiscalcorrectiveactionplanwhentherearemissingevaluationcomponents,orwhenthereevaluationhasexceededthethreeyeartimeline.Failuretocarryoutafiscalcorrectiveactionplanwithinthestipulatedtimelineswillresultinthereturnoffundsforthoserecordsoutofcompliance. (#(# NCDPI'smonitoringprocedureshadnotbeenfullyeffectiveinidentifyingallpublicagencydeficiencies.Thisisespeciallyevidentforthosepublicagenciesvisitedduringthe199192schoolyear,sinceNCDPIhadnotyetcompletedtherevisionofitsmonitoringproceduresrequiredbyOSEP'sAugust1991report.OSEPnoted,andNCDPImonitoringstaffagreed,thatsincethe199192schoolyear,NCDPIprocedureshadbecomeincreasinglymorerigorous,resultinginanincreasedcapacitytoidentifysignificantdeficiencies.DuringitsMay1995reviewofNCDPI,OSEPfounddeficienciesregardingleastrestrictiveenvironmentrequirementsthatwerenotidentifiedbyNCDPIinitsreportstopublicagenciesA,C,DandF.ThepublicagencieshadlastbeenmonitoredbyNCDPIduringthe199192schoolyear.Atthetimethoseagenciesweremonitored,NCDPIdeterminedcompliancewithLRErequirementsbyreviewingstudentIEPstoensurethattheconsiderationofmorethanoneoptionwasdocumentedandthatarationalefortheplacementwasincluded,butgenerallymadenojudgmentsconcerningthecriteriausedforremovingthestudentfromtheregularclassenvironment.NCDPIalsoreviewedtheagency'spoliciesandprocedures,examineditscontinuumofserviceslistedandinterviewedtheagency'sspecialeducationdirectoraboutplacementproceduresandthetypesofnonacademicandextracurricularactivitiesthatwereavailablewithintheagency.Nospecificdeterminationsweremadewithregardtoparticularstudentsortostudentswithinanyspecificcategoryofdisability.NCDPImonitoringstafftoldOSEPthatthesemonitoringstrategiesseldomresultedinfindingsofdeficiency.NCDPImonitoringstafftoldOSEPthat,beginningwiththe199495schoolyear,itbeganapplyinga"tougherstandard"topublicagenciesandselectivelyusingmoreindepthprocedurestodeterminecompliancewithLRErequirements.AtpublicagenciesEandG,NCDPIfoundextensiveLREviolationsusingthesenewprocedures.Forexample,NCDPIexamined +#( placementjustificationstatementsforstudentsservedinthepublicagency'stwoseparateschoolsanddeterminedthatthestatementsdidnotprovideasufficientrationaleforremovingthesestudentsfromtheregulareducationenvironment.NCDPInotedthatnoneofthesestudentshadaccesstoanyregulareducationprogramortononacademicorextracurricularactivitieswithstudentswhodidnothavedisabilities.Inaddition,NCDPIwrotethatmanystudentsplacedintheseparateschoolscouldbeappropriatelyservedinregularschoolswiththeuseofsupplementaryaidsandservices.InpublicagencyG,NCDPIexpandedthestructureofitsmonitoringvisittomorethoroughlyexamineongoingissuesinthatschoolsystem.Forinstance,themonitoringteam,whichtypicallywouldincludevolunteermembers,wascomposedexclusivelyofNCDPIstaff.Inthisvisit,NCDPIpilotedtheuseofstructuredinterviewswithspecialeducationteachers,representingeachgradelevelanddisabilitycategoryandalsointerviewedschoolprincipals.Inaddition,interviewswithrandomlyselectedparentswereincluded.TheseproceduresresultedinfindingsthatmanystudentsinpublicagencyGwereplacedininappropriatelyrestrictiveeducationalsettings.ThisdeficiencywasconfirmedbyOSEPwhenitvisitedseveralmonthslater.NCDPItoldOSEPthatitisconsideringincorporatingthenewinterviewanddatacollectionproceduresusedduringthisvisitintoitsstandardmonitoringproceduresforthe199596schoolyear.ThetablebelowshowsthefindingsthatOSEPidentifiedinpublicagenciesascomparedtofindingsthatNCDPIidentifiedinitsmostrecentreportstothosesamepublicagencies.XXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLW s  9     This  tableillustratestheincreasedeffectivenessofNCDPI'snewmonitoringproceduresusedinmorerecentvisits.XXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLW(  s  10       Ї& A K.` hp x (# XK@& TABLEIV  @  DeficienciesIdentifiedbyNCDPIandbyOSEP     ?+  hp x (#X?3XXy( 4 mK* ddd@td@= td@= td@?t@?(#(#,!d@,td@,td@,td@,td@,td@,td@,td@,t@+  1hh"   C1* 4  X* mKFEDERALREQUIREMENT mK Chwh0! qC"hh CC6 4 hp6PUBLICAGENCYANDDATEOFNCDPIVISIT xmK VhG/ C"  hwh CV ;hw,!Ch C;A x' 4 X'4/92 x ;hw,! C"hw C;B xb11/92 x ;hw,! C"hw C;C x3/92 x ;hw,!C"hw C;D x1/92 x ;hw,!C"hw C;E x9/94 x ;hw,!C"hw C;F x10/91 x ;hw,!C"hw C;G x1/95 x ?hwh,!C"hw C?H x3/93 x SwhD,C"  hwh CS 4  Transition kS  statement x Q9  4 y('y( 4300.346(b)(2) x ;ww,!7 Cwh C;! !NA ;ww,!kS C"ww C;bNA ;ww,!kS C"ww C; ;ww,!kS C"ww C;X ;ww,!kS C"ww C;O ;ww,!kS C"ww C;X ;ww,!kS !C"ww C;NA ?wwh,!kS "C"ww C?X Nwh?'kS #C" wwh CN 4  Studentinvited x  $ 4 y('y( 4300.344(c)(1)(i) x ;ww,!s %Cwh C;! !NA ;ww,! &C"ww C;bNA ;ww,! 'C"ww C; ;ww,! (C"ww C; ;ww,! )C"ww C;O ;ww,! *C"ww C;X ;ww,! +C"ww C;NA ?wwh,! ,C"ww C?X Nwh?' -C" wwh CN 4  Representativesof . otheragenciesinvited x 0 4 y('y( 4300.344(c)(1)(ii) x ;ww,!1Cwh C;! !NA ;ww,!2C"ww C;bNA ;ww,!3C"ww C; ;ww,!4C"ww C;X ;ww,!5C"ww C;O ;ww,!6C"ww C;X ;ww,!7C"ww C;NA ?wwh,!8C"ww C?X Nwh?'9C" wwh CN 4  IEPnotice: : transitionaspurpose x < 4 y('y( 4300.345(b)(2) x ;ww,!=Cwh C;! !NA ;ww,!>C"ww C;bNA ;ww,!?C"ww C; ;ww,!@C"ww C;X ;ww,!AC"ww C;X ;ww,!BC"ww C;X ;ww,!CC"ww C;NA ?wwh,!DC"ww C?X Nwh?'EC" wwh CN 4  LRE:removal, 9!F continuum,basedonIEP x  H 4 y(''y( 4300.550(b)(2),300.552(a)(12)300.552(bc) x ;ww,!"KCwh C;! !X ;ww,!9!LC"ww C;bX ;ww,!9!MC"ww C;X ;ww,!9!NC"ww C;X ;ww,!9!OC"ww C;O ;ww,!9!PC"ww C;X ;ww,!9!QC"ww C;O ?wwh,!9!RC"ww C?X Nwh?'9!SC" wwh CN 4  Placement n  determined annually  :T 4 y(' xxy( 4300.552(a)(1) ;ww,! :Cwh C; xx! ! ;ww,!n C"ww C;b ;ww,!n C"ww C;X ;ww,!n C"ww C;X ;ww,!n C"ww C; ;ww,!n C"ww C;X ;ww,!n C"ww C; ?wwh,!n C"ww C?X Nwh?'n C" wwh CN 4  Nonacademics   andextracurricular x Zt 4 y('y( 4300.553 x ;ww,!@ZCwh C;! !X ;ww,!C"ww C;b ;ww,!C"ww C;X ;ww,!C"ww C; ;ww,!C"ww C;O ;ww,!C"ww C;X ;ww,!C"ww C;O ?wwh,!C"ww C?X Nwh?'C" wwh CN 4  FAPE:deliveryor  availabilityofservices 4 y(' xxy( 4300.300 ;ww,!z Cwh C; xx! ! ;ww,!C"ww C;b ;ww,!C"ww C; ;ww,!C"ww C; ;ww,!C"ww C; ;ww,! C"ww C;X ;ww,!!C"ww C; ?wwh,!"C"ww C?X Nwh?'#C" wwh CN 4  FAPE:  $ continuationofservicesduringlongtermsuspension  ( 4 y(' xxy( 4300.300 ;ww,!f)Cwh C; xx! !X ;ww,! *C"ww C;b ;ww,! +C"ww C;X ;ww,! ,C"ww C; ;ww,! -C"ww C; ;ww,! .C"ww C; ;ww,! /C"ww C; ?wwh,! 0C"ww C?X Nwh?' 1C" wwh CN 4  FAPE:ESY  2 4 y(' xxy( 4300.300 ;ww,!3Cwh C; xx! ! ;ww,!4C"ww C;b ;ww,!5C"ww C;X ;ww,!6C"ww C; ;ww,!7C"ww C; ;ww,!8C"ww C; ;ww,!9C"ww C;O ?wwh,!:C"ww C? Nwh?';C" wwh CN 4  Contentofnotice (!B< (placement)  "(= 4 y(' xxy( 4300.505(a)(2) ;ww,!">Cwh C; xx! !X ;ww,!(!B?C"ww C;bX ;ww,!(!B@C"ww C;X ;ww,!(!BAC"ww C;X ;ww,!(!BBC"ww C;X ;ww,!(!BCC"ww C;X ;ww,!(!BDC"ww C;X ?wwh,!(!BEC"ww C?X Rwhhh?'(!BFC" wwh C R9( 4 hp x 9 KEY:"X" =OSEPidentifiedadeficiencynotincludedbyNCDPIinitsreports.'0"X x b$|G  򀀀"O" =OSEPfoundthesamedeficiencyasNCDPI. H%bH  򀀀"NA" =OSEPdidnotreviewthefilesofstudentsforwhomconsiderationoftransition .&HI serviceswasarequirement,andthereforecouldmakenodetermineastothepublicagency's compliancewithregardtotransitionrequirements. A-:0.'KC 0 whhh  :&  H+  hp x (#4 XHXX3YXLWXXyXn A-  FINDING:    Nomethodfordeterminingdeficiencies     XLWXXYXLW 'YXLWXXXLW300.300 [continuationofservicesduringlongtermsuspensionorexpulsion] NCDPI  ~ monitoredonlytodeterminethatonceasuspensionorexpulsionreachedtendays,amultidisciplinaryteamreviewedcompletedevaluationsforachildwithadisabilityandconductedanyadditionalevaluations,ifnecessary,todeterminewhetherthebehaviorwascausedbythechild'sdisability.NCDPIhasnomethodtodeterminewhetherservicescontinuetobeprovidedtostudentswhoareproperlysuspendedlongtermorexpelled.XLWXXYXLW 'YXLWXXXLW300.345(b)(2)(i)[IEPnotice:transitionaspurpose] NCDPIhasamonitoringprocedureto   determinewhetherparentalnotificationofIEPmeetingsindicatesthepurposeofthemeeting,asrequiredbyXLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.345(a)(1).However,NCDPIdoesnothaveamethodtoensurethat,inthoseinstanceswherethemeetingistoincludetheconsiderationoftransitionservicesforastudent,thenoticeindicatesconsiderationoftransitionasapurpose,asrequiredbyXLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.345(b)(2)(i).AsnotedinSectionI,OSEPfoundnumerousinstanceswherepublicagenciesdidnotmeetthenotificationrequirementsofXLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.345(b)(2)(i)(seepage.$TRANSITION_PURPOS.4  ).ThesedeficiencieshadnotbeenidentifiedbyNCDPIinitsmostrecentreportstothoseagencies.Incompleteorineffectivemethodsfordeterminingcompliance  ЀXLWXXYXLW 'YXLWXXXLW300.505(a)(2)[contentofnotice] Inordertodeterminewhetherthepublicagencyprovides  priorwrittennoticeforplacementthatincludesalltherequiredcontent,NCDPIreviewstheIEPformwhich,inNorthCarolina,servesasthatnotice.IfthissectionoftheIEPformiscompleted,NCDPIdeterminesthatthecontentofpriornoticerequirementhasbeenmet.AlthoughtheStatedevelopedformrequiresthatareasonbeprovidedfortheplacementoptionselected,itdoesnotspecificallydirecttheIEPteamtoprovidereasonswhyotheroptionsconsideredwererejected.Therefore,thismonitoringmethoddidnotresultintheidentificationofdeficiencieswiththecontentofpriornoticerequirementforinitialplacementsorchangesinplacements.XLWXXYXLW 'YXLWXXXLW300.300 [provisionofservices] NCDPI'smethodofdeterminingwhetherstudentswith %" disabilitiesarereceivingalltheservicestheyneedinordertoreceiveFAPEistointerviewtheprogramadministrator(specialeducationdirector)aboutprovisionofservices.Italsoreviewscontractsforserviceswithprivateprovidersandexaminestheagency'suseoffunds.NCDPIhasnomethodtoverifythatservicesaredeliveredasspecifiedontheIEP.Similarly,ithasnomethodtodeterminewhethertheIEPreflectsalltheservicesachildmayneedtoreceiveFAPEandthatservicesindicatedinIEPsarenotlimitedoromittedduetoserviceprovisionshortages. +#( WhenOSEPreviewedrecordsandinterviewedprogramadministrators,teachersandrelatedserviceproviders,itfounddeficiencieswithregardtotheprovisionofservicesthatNCDPI,usingitsmonitoringmethod,didnotfind.'~   ~ TRO'3+ X3'* '3 Letter Landscape3' LetterT& U W: hp x (#%'0*,. XW3XXy(Y mK* d d!d@!td@td@td@td@td@td@td@t@..,d@,td@,= td@,td@,?t@+  1hh" I1 C1* 4  X*FINDING/FEDERALREQUIREMENT xmK ;hw,! Chh C;3` h3EXPECTEDOUTCOME/ACTIONREQUIRED ;hw,!Chw C;*` X*ACTIVITIESTOMEETOUTCOMEREQUIREMENT ;hw,! C"hw C; ;) RESOU ;)     RCES ?hwh,!  Chw C?TIMELINEFORSUBMISSION Lwhh;' C hwh CL! 4 X! NCDPIis   responsiblefortheadoptionanduseofeffectivemethodstomonitorpublicagenciesresponsibleforcarryingoutspecialeducationprograms.20U.S.C.4 y(' xxy( 41232d(b)(3)(A).AStateshallkeeprecordstoshowitscompliancewithprogramrequirements. =wwh,!qYCwhh C= xx3` h3Throughitsmonitoringsystem,NCDPIwillbeabletoidentifydeficiencieswithPartBrequirements,includingthoserequirementsdescribedinSectionIVofthisReport. =wwh,!#Cwwh C=*` X* =wwh,! $Cwwh C= ?wwhh,! %Cwwh C? A-x7-+ &C 0  wwhh 7_'UD  o& &    TRX3'* O'3+ 3' Letter'3 Letter LandscapeT  & 0 B.` hp x (#XBXX3 q1-A-YXLWXXyXn @iiV.COMPLAINTMANAGEMENTANDDUEPROCESSANDPROCEDURAL  SAFEGUARDS  q1-  ?+  hp x (#X?0   A.  Within60calendarsdaysafteracomplaintisfiled,eachSEAshallinvestigateand   resolveanycomplaintthatapublicagencyhasviolatedarequirementofPartBandissueawrittendecisiontothecomplainantthataddresseseachallegation.The60day_timeline_Ԁmaybeextendedonlyifexceptionalcircumstanceexistwithrespecttoaparticularcomplaint.XLWXXYXLW''YXLWXXXLW300.660300.662.'0R (#(#  PreviousFindingInitsAugust12,1991finalcompliancereportto_NCDPI_,_OSEP_Ԁfoundthat .  _NCDPI_Ԁdidnotensurethatallcomplaintswereinvestigatedandresolvedwithin60daysunlessthe_timeline_Ԁhadbeenextendedduetoexceptionalcircumstances.In3ofthe12cases_OSEP_sampled,_NCDPI_Ԁhadimproperlyexceededthe60day_timeline_._NCDPI_Ԁwasrequiredinitscorrectiveactionplantodevelopandimplementprocedurestoaddressthisdeficiency. FINDING: _NCDPI_Ԁdidnotensurethatallcomplaintswereinvestigatedandresolvedwithin60 z  days,unlessthe_timeline_Ԁhadbeenextendedduetoexceptionalcircumstancesthatexistedwithrespecttoparticularcomplaints.Todetermine_NCDPI_'scurrentstatuswithregardtocomplaintmanagement,_OSEP_Ԁreviewedcomplaintlogsfor199293,199394andforthecurrentschoolyear.XXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLW_ s  11     __OSEP_Ԁnotedthatthenumberofcomplaintshadincreasedovertime. * N1G ` hp x (# XN   G 19929326   G 19939459   G 19949544̀Insomeinstances,_NCDPI_Ԁexceededthe60day_timeline_Ԁforinvestigatingandresolvingcomplaintsandhadnotextendedthe_timeline_Ԁduetotheexistenceofexceptionalcircumstanceswithrespecttoparticularcomplaints.Forsomecases,theLEAwaslateinrespondingto_NCDPI_'srequestsfordocumentationneededtomakecompliancedeterminations._NCDPI_provided_OSEP_Ԁwithasampleofaletterwrittentoadistrictinformingitthatthe_timeline_Ԁforsubmittingaresponsehadelapsed.Itis_NCDPI_'spracticetosendsuch"reminder"lettersseveralweeksbeforetheendofthe60day_timeline_Ԁforresolvingthecomplaint.Inotherinstances,the 60day_timeline_Ԁwasexceededbecausethecasemanager'sschedulewasinterruptedbyother #  '    duties.XXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLW_ s  12     _   AsshownbelowinTableV,overthelastthreeschoolyears19ofthe120complaintsexceededthe60dayswithoutexceptionalcircumstancesintheparticularcase("LEAResponseLate"=9,"ScheduleInterruption=10).While_NCDPI_'sabilitytoresolvecomplaintswithin60dayshasimprovedduringthepasttwoyears,aboutoneintencomplaintsisnotresolvedwithintheprescribed_timeline_._OSEP_Ԁalsonotedthatmostoverduecomplaintswerelessthanthreeweeksoverdue.Forinstance,in199495thefourcasesthatexceededthe60daytimelimitforreasonsotherthanexceptionalcircumstanceswere16,8,41and4daysoverdue.K.` hp x (#G ` XK @&TABLEVA     @& & Analysisof_NCDPI_ԀComplaint_Timelines_ `Kӈ   * ddd@td@= td@= td@?t@?(#(#,?d@,td@,wtd@,td@,td@,td@,+t@+  7hh"   C7! X!3XXy( 4 `KSCHOOLYEAR mK Ahw,!Q9C"hh CA! ?!TotalComplaints Ahw,!mC"hw CAResolvedWithin60Days Ahw,!kSC"hw CA_Timeline_ExtendedDuetoExceptionalCircumstances Ehw0!7C"hw CE$` X$Exceeded60Days,_Timeline_ԀnotExtendedDuetoExceptionalCircumstances xmK Dhwh/$kS#C"hw CD xPercentageOverdue mK Th?'Q9(C" hwh CT! X! xmK Aw,!)Ch CA! ?! Aw,!*Cw CA Aw,!+Cw CA Ahw,!,Cw CALEA xResponseLate x Ahw,!y/C"hw CASchedule xInterruption x Awh,!1C"hw CA Nwh?'2C wh CN_! X!199293 ;ww,!3C"wh C;! ?!26 ;ww,!4C"ww C;14 ;ww,!5C"ww C;4 ;ww,!6C"ww C;3 ;ww,!7C"ww C;5 ?wwh,!8C"ww C?30% Nwh?'9C" wwh CN! X!199394 ;ww,!mU:C"wh C;! ?!59 ;ww,!mU;C"ww C;43 ;ww,!mU<C"ww C;9 ;ww,!mU=C"ww C;3 ;ww,!mU>C"ww C;4 ?wwh,!mU?C"ww C?12% Nwh?'mU@C" wwh CN! X!199495 ;ww,!AC"wh C;! ?!35 ;ww,!BC"ww C;25 ;ww,!CC"ww C;6 ;ww,!DC"ww C;3 ;ww,!EC"ww C;1 ?wwh,!FC"ww C?11% Lwhh;'GC" wwh CL! X!Totals =wwh,!I!1HC"whh C=! ?!120 =wwh,!I!1IC"wwh C=82 =wwh,!I!1JC"wwh C=19 =wwh,!I!1KC"wwh C=9 =wwh,!I!1LC"wwh C=10 ?wwhh,!I!1MC"wwh C?16% A-x7-+I!1NC" 0  wwhh 7E1G ` hp x (#XEXX3YXLWXXyXn A- _"GN 0   B.  Thepublicagencymustprovidetoparentspriorwrittennoticethatincludes  placementoptionsconsideredandreasonsrejected(XLWXXYXLW'YXLWXXXLW300.505(a)(2)). (#(#  FINDING: ItwasreportedtoOSEPbyadministratorsandteachersinallofthepublicagencies   visitedbyOSEPthattheIEPincludesinformationaboutplacementoptionsproposedorrefusedandservesasthewrittennoticetoparentsforanyplacementdecision,includinginitialplacementsandchangesinplacement.InthestudentrecordsreviewedinpublicagenciesA,C,D,E,F,G,andH,OSEPfoundthatthewrittenpriornoticeprovidedtoparentsdidnotmeetPartB'srequirementstoensurethatparentsweregiventhereasonswhyanyoptionstheagencyconsideredwererejectedbythepublicagencyasitpertainstothestudent'sinitialplacementorchangeinplacement.̀OnepossibleexplanationforthisfrequentomissionmayberelatedtotheformsusedbythepublicagenciesvisitedbyOSEP.XXXXXLWXXX      XXhXLW s  13     Theformswerebasedonthemodelformdevelopedby   NCDPI,whichdirectedtheIEPteamto,"checktheservicesconsideredbythecommittee,andcirclethedecisionreached.Givereason(s)forthedecisionreached.Acontinuumofservicesmustbeconsidered."Thedirectionsdonotspecifytheneedtoaddressthereasonswhyanyoptionstheagencyconsideredwererejected. &  '4"   TRO'3+ X3'* '3 Letter Landscape3' LetterT]@G ` hp x (#%'0*,.G ` X] `K* dd?d@?td@wtd@wtd@td@td@+t@+..,d@,td@,= td@,td@,?t@+  1hh" I1 C1-` G ` X-3XX ,K`Ky( 4FINDING/FEDERALREQUIREMENT x,K ;hw,! Chh C;3` h}3EXPECTEDOUTCOME/ACTIONREQUIRED ;hw,!Chw C;ACTIVITIESTOMEETOUTCOMEREQUIREMENT ;hw,! C"hw C; ;) RESOU ;)     RCES ?hwh,!  Chw C?TIMELINEFORSUBMISSION Nwh?' C hwh CN$` X$ A.Resolve   complaintandissueawrittendecisionwithin60days[4 y(' xxy( 4300.661(a)] ;ww,! Cwh C; xx3` h}3NCDPI'scomplaintmanagementsystemresultsintheinvestigationandresolutionofcomplaintswithin60days,unlessanexceptionalcircumstanceexistswithregardtoaparticularcomplaint. ;ww,!Cww C;1.NCDPImustdemonstratetoOSEPthatithassufficientstaffandresourcestocarryoutthisresponsibility. x2.NCDPImustissuequarterlyreportstoOSEPverifyingthatcomplaintsareinvestigatedandresolvedwithin60daysexceptwheretherehasbeenanexceptionalcircumstance. x ;ww,!%Cww C; ?wwh,! &Cww C? Lwhh;' 'C wwh CL$` X$ B.Priorwritten -( noticesincludingoptionsconsideredandreasonsrejected[4 y(' xxy( 4300.505(a)(2)] =wwh,!-Cwhh C= xx3` h}3Publicagenciesmustprovidedpriorwrittennoticeofplacementthatincludesotherplacementoptionsthatwereconsideredandthereasonsthoseoptionswererejected. =wwh,!1Cwwh C= =wwh,!-2Cwwh C= ?wwhh,!-3Cwwh C? A-x7-+-4C 0  wwhh 7T@G ` hp x (#%'0*,.XTXX3YXLWXXyXn A- 4 *    _   TRX3'* O'3+ 3' Letter'3 Letter LandscapeT&  K.` hp x (#G ` XK@*  'kԈ  E1G ` hp x (#XE @..  APPENDIX  PublicAgencyKeyReference     _OSEP_Ԁvisitedeightlocaleducationalagencies(_LEAs_)aspartofitsreviewof_NCDPI_'simplementationofPartB.Whereappropriate,_OSEP_ԀhasincludedinthisReportdatacollectedfromthose_LEAs_Ԁtosupportorclarifythe_OSEP_Ԁfindingsregardingthesufficiencyandeffectivenessof_NCDPI_'ssystemsforensuringcompliancewiththerequirementsofPartB.Theagencyinwhichthesupportingorclarifyingdatawerecollectedisindicatedbyadesignationsuchas"publicagencyA."Theagenciesthat_OSEP_ԀvisitedandthedesignationusedtoidentifythoseagenciesinthisReportaresetforthbelow:0  0G (#(#      G PublicagencyA:ForsythCounty G (#G (# 0  0G (#(#      G PublicagencyB:CatawbaCounty G (#G (# 0  0G (#(#      G PublicagencyC:ShelbyCity G (#G (# 0  0G (#(#      G PublicagencyD:_Mecklenburg_ԀCounty G (#G (# 0  0G (#(#      G PublicagencyE:_Guilford_ԀCounty G (#G (# 0  0G (#(#      G PublicagencyF:DurhamCounty G (#G (#    G PublicagencyG:VanceCounty   G PublicagencyH:WakeCountỳ#YXLWXXX}#