Pacific Entities Continue Virtual Engagement During OSEP’s Clarification
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is responsible for ensuring that states comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Annually, each state must have a State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR). The SPP/APR evaluates the state’s efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of Part B and Part C of the IDEA. In April, OSEP provided a clarification period so states may provide additional information or clarification to their initial report submission. Guam CEDDERS Interim Director, June De Leon provided support to Guam, the Republic of Palau (ROP), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in submitting any required clarifications to their Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2018 SPP/APR report.
On April 17, CNMI is all smiles under their masks after reviewing their IDEA FFY 2018 Part B SPP/APR clarification. Top right: June De Leon, Interim Director, Guam CEDDERS , displays UOG pride by showing the Triton sign. Bottom (L-R): Donna Flores, Acting Director of Special Education, CNMI; and Nora Fujihira, Data Management & Compliance Program Manager, CNMI, show the peace sign.
On April 22, Guam CEDDERS June De Leon participated in a Skype call with Guam Division of Special Education Administrators and the US Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) State Lead for Guam. The purpose for the call was for the OSEP State Lead to discuss OSEP’s review of Guam’s Part B and Part C FFY 2018 Annual Performance Reports submitted in February 2020. L-R: Cathy Tydingco, Part C Coordinator, GDOE; June De Leon, Interim Director, Guam CEDDERS; Laura Taisipic, Parent Services Coordinator, GDOE; Terese Crisostomo, Special Projects Coordinator, GDOE; Yolanda Gabriel, Assistant Superintendent, Division of Special Education, GDOE; and Charlie Kniseley, State Lead, OSEP.
On April 24, L-R: Genee Norbert, OSEP State Lead for FSM; Arthur Albert, Assistant Secretary, FSM Department of Education; and Guam CEDDERS June De Leon meet virtually through Zoom video conferencing to discuss FSM’s IDEA FFY 2018 Part B APR submission and the opportunity for FSM to provide “clarification.”
On April 24, Guam submitted their IDEA FFY 2018 Part C SPP/APR clarification. From top to bottom: June De Leon, Interim Director, Guam CEDDERS; Laura Taisipic, Parent Service Coordinator, GDOE; Cathy Tydingco, Part C Coordinator, GDOE; Terese Crisostomo, Special Projects Coordinator, GDOE; and Yolanda Gabriel, Assistant Superintendent, Division of Special Education, GDOE.
On April 30, FSM submitted their IDEA FFY 2018 Part B SPP/APR clarification. Arthur Albert, Assistant Secretary for the Division of Special Services, FSM Department of Education, is all smiles when he sees “submitted” in green above “current status.”
On April 30, Nora Renguul, Special Education Coordinator, Palau Ministry of Education (top photo), uses Zoom video conferencing to meet virtually with Guam CEDDERS June De Leon (bottom photo) to finalize Palau’s “clarification” for its FFY 2018 IDEA Part B APR. All smiles indeed!