Act 173
In what way did the General Assembly of the State of Vermont prepare themselves to create Act 173?
In 2016, the General Assembly gave the Agency of Education the task of undertaking the DMG report and a financial study to be conducted by UVM.
What does DMG stand for?
DMG stands for District Management Group. Twelve supervisory unions from across the state participated in this study group.
What five problems were identified by the funding report (within the existing systems at the time the report was written)?
Costly, misaligned priorities, misplaced incentives, discourages cost containment, unpredictable and lacking transparency.
When do the Special Education rule changes triggered by Act 173 start?
Some changes take effect on July 1, 2022; some take effect July 1, 2023.
On July 1, 2023, Vermont will dramatically change the manner of determining disability in one existing disability category. Which one?
Specific Learning Disability
Does Act 173 maintain the protections of IDEA 2004?
Yes
What was the purpose of the DMG study and resulting report?
"The DMG set out to improve effectiveness, availability, and equity of services provided to students who struggle both with and without IEPs."
What funding shift will take place as a result of Act 173?
Special Education funding will change from a reimbursement model to a block grant model.
What Basic Skill Area will be added on July 1, 2023?
Functional Skills
How is a specific learning disability currently determined in Vermont?
A student is determined to have a specific learning disability when there is a 1.5 standard deviation discrepancy between cognitive scores and achievement scores.
Is the initial implementation of Act 173 expected to be instantly smooth and clear?
No, but the outcomes are expected to be worth the effort.
What 4 specific strengths were identified in the existing system? (at the time of the report)
Staff and building leaders put kids first, elementary schools are prepared to place students in tier 2 supports, some elementary schools have helped their special educators specialize, and secondary schools are providing time for extra support with content teachers.
What are the advantages of a census based funding model over a reimbursement model?
It will be more transparent, flexible, predictable, and aligned with state priorities.
What is the largest difference between rights guaranteed by IDEA 2004 and Section 504?
IDEA relates to a student's experience in school k-12; Section 504 extends beyond school.
What are two ways a specific learning disability can be determined in Vermont as of July 1, 2023?
School districts can base their determination on a Response to Intervention model or a Patterns of Strengths and Weaknesses model.
Is Act 173 a Special Education law?
No
What 5 best practices were identified by the study?
Most student needs should be met by tier 1 instruction, additional instruction should occur outside of primary instruction time, learners who struggle should be instructed by highly skilled teachers, a systemic approach to supporting positive behaviors, specialized instruction needs to be provided by skilled and trained experts.
How is the block grant funding model aligned with state priorities?
The state has committed to strengthening its multi-tiered system of support to provide high quality first instruction and tiered intervention to all students who struggle.
If a student moves to a new district while in the process of being evaluated for special education, which district is responsible?
The two districts should work together to coordinate their efforts and make the process continue as smoothly as possible for the student.
What system will MAUSD use to determine specific learning disability as of July 2, 2023?
Response to Intervention
What components of a tiered system of support must each school district maintain?
Educational Support Team, Instructional and Behavioral Interventions, and classroom accommodations for any student that needs them.
What is the financial implication of enacting the recommendations in the DMG report?
Improving outcomes for students who struggle will ultimately allow the state to serve the majority of students at the universal level therefore reducing costs. Small schools may best serve students by sharing resources.
Will more funding be provided to districts with higher special education costs?
That may provide greater equity, and the Agency of Education is directed to create criteria.
SPED evaluations will begin to include data about RTI. Can a student be denied services due to lack of data?
No
Will adverse effect data continue to be collected as part of a special education evaluation?
Although there are rule changes affecting the determination of SLD and deaf-blindness, overall, yes.