TIP 1: Learn the RATING that your local school district earned on its latest Annual Performance Report (APR) data based on your State Performance Report (SPP). It's an important piece of information because the RATING determines if the district if eligible to reduce its local level of expenditures on special education as allowed by IDEA when there is an increase in non-local funds allocated to the district from one fiscal year to the next. Unfortunately, most states are not posting the ratings for local school districts on the state dept. of education website. If you can't find out your district's RATING on the latest APR (2007-2008 school year), use the tool below.

TOOL 1:  Most states are not posting the RATINGS that have been determined for each of the local school districts. While this is not in keeping with the transparency and accountability associated with the new administration and the use of ARRA funds in general, many will need to submit a Request for Public Records to the state department of education. We have prepared a template for this purpose that is available here. 

TIP 2:  Understand the ins and outs of the regular FY09 IDEA funds and the one-time IDEA ARRA funds provided to states and local school districts. Use the tool below.

TOOL 2: We've put together a nifty side-by-side comparison chart as a quick reference on varies provisions that apply to each allocation of IDEA Part B funds (Section 611, School age children). Find it here. (PDF, 2 pgs.)

TIP 3: Look to your school district's performance on the 20 indicators that make up the State Performance Plan (SPP) for information and guidance on how to allocate IDEA ARRA funds for maximum impact. Exploring relationships between indicators and identifying patterns in outcomes can further assist in targeting funds to improve results. 

TOOL 3: Explore this online guide - Making Connections Across Indicators to Improve Post-School Outcomes: Early State Efforts - for lots of helpful information on how to collect and analyze data on the relationships of Indicators 1 (graduation), 2 (dropout), 13 (secondary transitions), and 14 (post-school outcomes). A publication of the National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD) and the National Post-School Outcomes Center (NPSO) University of Oregon.