Special Education Monitoring & Compliance

Northwest Education Services' Compliance Supervisor provides technical assistance, monitoring, and compliance services. These services includes the  development of an Intermediate School District Special Education Plan, investigation of formal special education complaints, development of forms and procedures that enable local districts to provide a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities. North Ed collects data regarding the number of students with disabilities, student performance information, and reports to state and federal agencies. The Compliance Supervisor works in collaboration with the Continuous Improvement Monitoring System Coordinator (CIMS) to provide local school districts with information and training to meet the revised monitoring process.

Technical assistance is provided to school districts, parents, and agencies regarding programs and services available to students who are suspected of having a disability or are disabled. The annual monitoring of  special education programs and services collects a "snapshot" comparing actual program and service delivery to the standard established in rule and law. The Compliance Supervisor assists local school districts with Due Process Special Education Hearings, data collection and analysis, and serves as a resource to both parent and district regarding the delivery of special education programs and services.

The Compliance Supervisor coordinates the Medicaid Fee for Service and Case Management services for the North Ed.

What is CIMS?

Ensuring that students and children with disabilities are prepared to live an independent and productive life is the ultimate goal of all activities which are monitored by the Michigan Department of Education Offices of Special Education and Early Intervention Services (OSE-EIS) and Early Childhood Education and Family Services (ECE&FS).

CIMS-2 

The Continuous Improvement & Monitoring System-2 (CIMS-2) is the revised system used by the OSE-EIS and ECE&FS to help locals and the State monitor, analyze, and interpret data and ensure compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) of 2004 and the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education. The CIMS-2 system:

  • Reflects the priorities of the IDEA 2004 and the State Performance Plan (SPP).
  • Helps locals, Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) and the State identify and address the need for correction and improvement.
  • Aligns with the School Improvement Framework.

CIMS-2 was designed to help the State, ISDs and locals keep track of the tasks and activities required by the IDEA 2004, put special education monitoring activities into context, and define a predictable schedule of events for special education monitoring. The CIMS-2 allows locals to see the data the State sees when making monitoring decisions and stores that information in a single location so that the status updates, notes, and other information are easily accessible.

IDEA Statute 

The Federal Law that governs programs and services for students with disabilities is found in this document. The Federal government has enacted the IDEA 2004 Regulations that implement this law. Please See IDEA Statute.

IDEA 2004 Regulations 

The IDEA 2004 Regulations contain the information and instructions on how states are to implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004. This is the Federal legislation that provides for a Free Appropriate Public Education for students with disabilities. Michigan follows the regulations as outlined in this document.  In addition to this set of regulations, Michigan uses the Revised Administrative Rules for Special Education to operate programs and services for students with disabilities.

The Revised Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education 2013 supplemented with selected IDEA Federal Regulations, contain the requirements and procedures for the operation of special education programs and services. Michigan’s rules pre dated the Federal Regulations; Michigan is currently amending many of the state rules to conform to the IDEA 2004 Regulations. Readers will need to examine all three links above to see the entire rules package.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act contain the protections afforded to students and their families. The information that is collected during the course of the special education process belongs to the family. The school stores the information in a safe secure place. The family can review any and all information that the school has collected and is entitled to have copies of any and all information.

The Procedural Safeguards document contains a description of the rights given to families regarding the special education process. The Due Process Procedures are contained in this document. This document contains descriptions of procedures that the family can use to obtain resolution if a dispute arises. The document contains a list of agencies that can assist the family with this process, provide information and some provide low or no cost legal assistance. The Procedural Safeguards are given to the family at the initiation of the special education process, at Manifestation Determinations, or upon request. This document is available at all IEP meetings.

Procedural Safeguards for Early On