Special Populations
Continuous Improvement Monitoring Process (CIMP)
The Division of Special Populations (DSP) is responsible for ensuring local education agency (LEA) compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Louisiana’s Regulations for Implementation of the Children with Exceptionalities Act (Bulletin 1706). IDEA guarantees the free appropriate public education (FAPE) of children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment (LRE); Bulletin 1706 supports IDEA and also guarantees FAPE to preschool children and gifted and talented students. To assist LEAs in meeting the needs of exceptional students, DSP uses a continuous improvement monitoring process.
Focused monitoring is a critical component of the continuous improvement monitoring process. In focused monitoring, a group of stakeholders identify priorities considered essential to the successful provision of special education services in Louisiana. These priorities indicate which data reports will be used in the selection process for determining on-site monitoring visits. In this way, system-level data is examined and compared to state norms in those areas deemed most critical for the successful performance of exceptional students, and the State uses its resources to monitor where closer scrutiny is most warranted.
At the conclusion of every on-site monitoring visit, a written report is issued by DSP to the system summarizing the monitoring team’s findings. With every report, there is a letter from the State Superintendent of Education outlining the steps necessary for completing a Corrective Action Plan (CAP). After the System has implemented its CAP, a follow-up visit is conducted to determine if past findings of noncompliance are no longer evident. Click below to access reports.
CIMP Monitoring Reports
The Steering Committee for the Continuous Improvement Monitoring Process met on November 9, 2004. The meeting was held to discuss goals and performance indicators the State uses to report progress of students with disabilities to the U.S. Department of Education. Additionally, the committee selected performance indicators by which the Louisiana Department of Education will select Local Education Agencies for monitoring special education programs. The minutes were submitted by Jane Nell Luster, Ph.D., who facilitated the meeting.
Please contact Susan Wagley Batson at Susan.Batson@la.gov if you have any questions concerning this matter.
CIMP Steering Committee Notes (11/9/04)
PDF
The Compliance Monitoring Procedures Handbook, Bulletin 1922, provides more detail about the monitoring process:
Bulletin 1922: Compliance Monitoring Procedures Handbook
PDF
The links below provide more useful information on special eduation monitoring:
National Center for Special Education Accountability Monitoring (NCSEAM)
OSEP -- Continuous Improvement Monitoring Process
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