Information from the U.S. Department of Education
We have received numerous questions regarding how to meet IDEA mandates in the event of a long term school closure due to COVID-19. Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Education released a set of guidance documents (http://bit.ly/38OSX4P) to help guide state and local decision making. There are many questions to which we do not yet have answers. Collectively, schools are dealing with an unprecedented event, and previous guidance was based on situations that resulted in localized, short term closures. Nationwide long term closures, like we are facing now, is uncharted territory. We understand that many of you are rightly concerned about the expectations for meeting timelines for existing requests for evaluations/reevaluations for special education eligibility. The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has indicated that they will be issuing additional guidance on this topic in the very near future. This issue, as well as many others, were addressed on a webinar (http://bit.ly/38N3JIO) with Laurie VanderPloeg, Director of OSEP for chief state school officers, state special education directors, and local special education administrators. At this time, there is not a transcript or a corresponding FAQ, but if one becomes available, we will share it. We hope you find this helpful. If you have specific questions we urge you to reach out to your state department of education and/or your local special education director. We will continue to share information and formal guidance as it becomes available. Thank you for all you are doing to support our students.