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Special Education Updates Guidance


Tuesday, September 4, 2018

On July 1, 2018, two important changes to local special education requirements went into effect in accordance with the Enhanced Special Education Services Amendment Act of 2014. First, the timeline for completion of an initial evaluation was shortened, making District of Columbia law consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  Second, secondary transition planning must be conducted for the first individualized education program (IEP) to be in effect after a child with disability turns 14.

On July 13, 2018, OSSE issued a short rulemaking to update 5-E DCMR Chapter 30 (Special Education) to address these two changes in the law and to incorporate longstanding existing federal and local requirements addressed in a variety of other authoritative sources, including compulsory attendance regulations and guidance. In other instances, the new regulatory language is intended to clarify areas of frequent confusion and respond to local education agency (LEA) calls for a more practical approach to special education responsibility for students with disabilities who transfer between District of Columbia LEAs between school years.

Please see the attached guidance for an overview of these changes, including information about relevant conforming changes made to OSSE’s special education compliance monitoring and the Special Education Data System (SEDS).


Related Content: Specialized Education Local Policy Guidance