Determinations

Determinations items available to each ISD:

• Sample 2020 Determinations Letter (PDF) Letter received in Determinations activity in Catamaran.
• Part B Determinations Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Sample ISD Determinations Matrix (PDF) Results and Compliance Matrix received in Determinations activity in Catamaran.
• Sample Determinations Matrix Template for Use by ISDs (Word) Results and Compliance Matrix Template the ISD may use.
• How the Michigan Department of Education Made Determinations (PDF) Document explaining the indicators and data elements used to make Determinations.

Federal and state statutes guiding how Determinations are made:

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) IDEA Statute and Regulations.
• Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE) (PDF) Full text of the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE).

Resources on indicators and data elements used for Determinations:

• Part B State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicators Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Part B indicator resources.
• EDFacts Reference Data Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) information on how data CEPI collects is used for federal and state reporting requirements.

Data sources for Determinations:

• Special Education Public Reporting from MI School Data Official state site with special education Annual Public Reporting and continuity of service data. Data portraits of federal and state special education counts are also available.
• Michigan Student Data System (MSDS) The Student Data System is a repository that contains information regarding students receiving education in the State of Michigan.
• Educational Entity Master (EEM) The EEM application serves as the directory for identifying and linking educational entities with other data collection applications in the State of Michigan.

Statewide Assessment Participation

Use the information in this section to further explain the participation data elements for both reading and math from the Part B ISD Determinations Matrix.

Information and data source links for the B-3B Statewide Assessment Participation state performance plan indicator:

• Grads 360: Assessment Participation Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) information on measurement of B-3B assessment participation indicator.
• B-3 Information Catamaran training site description of the B-3 indicator with link to data source and relevant informational resources.

Informational resources from the state regarding Statewide Assessments:

• Assessment Selection Guidance Interactive Decision-Making Tool MDE online interactive tool for choosing the right Statewide Assessment.
• Should My Student Take the Alternate Assessment? (PDF) MI-Access guide to help Individualized Education Program (IEP) team members in selecting the right assessment.
• Every Student Succeeds Act and the 1% Cap Michigan’s approach to the 1% cap for alternative assessment proficiency reporting

Assessment Proficiency

Use the information in this section to further explain the proficiency data elements for both reading and math from the Part B ISD Determinations Matrix.

Information and data source links for the B-3C Assessment Proficiency indicator:

• Grads 360: Assessment Proficiency Official of Special Education Programs information on measurement of B-3C assessment proficiency indicator.
• B-3 Information Catamaran training site description of the B-3 indicator with link to data source and relevant informational resources.

Additional resources and tools for proficiency:

• National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII) Mission and Approach NCII resources for intensive instruction.
• Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative (MIBLSI) Students are more likely to succeed when schools address behavior and learning together. Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative (MIBLSI) partners with school districts to help implement and sustain these supports for improved student outcomes.
• Alt + Shift Alt+Shift collaborates with districts and buildings to create and sustain accessible educational environments that have a direct and positive impact on every student. With a focus on collaboration and impact, Alt+Shift offers professional learning, including training, technical assistance, and co-constructed implementation planning, that strives to shift adult mindsets and provide alternative options to improve outcomes for every student.
• Every Student Succeeds Act and the 1% Cap Michigan’s approach to the 1% cap for alternative assessment proficiency reporting.

Graduation

This is the percentage of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), ages 14 through 21, who exited school by graduating with a regular high school diploma. The percentage was calculated by dividing the number of students ages 14 through 21 served under IDEA Part B, reported in the exit reason category graduated with a regular high school diploma (numerator) by the total number of students ages 14 through 21 served under IDEA Part B (denominator), reported in the five exit-from-both-special education-and-school categories (graduated with a regular high school diploma, received a certificate, dropped out, reached maximum age for services, and died), then multiplying the result by 100. (Data source: EDFacts SY 2016-17.)

Use the information in this section to further explain the graduation data element from the Part B ISD Determinations Matrix.

Data source links:

• State Level 618 Data Table  Section 618 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that each state submit data about students with disabilities, ages 3 through 21, who receive special education and related services under Part B of IDEA.

Additional resources and tools for graduation and drop out management:

• Graduation and Dropout Application (GAD) Link to the state’s official Graduate and Dropout Application.
• Personal Curriculum MDE resources for personal curriculum development.
• Michigan’s Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System (EWIMS)  An Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System (EWIMS) is a data-driven, decision-making process that helps educators systematically identify students who are showing signs that they are at risk of dropping out of school, examine the underlying causes of risk and match students’ needs to interventions, and monitor students’ progress and the success of those interventions.
• Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative (MIBLSI)  Students are more likely to succeed when schools address behavior and learning together. Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative (MIBLSI) partners with school districts to help implement and sustain these supports for improved student outcomes.

Drop Out

Use the information in this section to further explain the drop out data element from the Part B ISD Determinations Matrix.

Data source links:

• State Level 618 Data Table  Section 618 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that each state submit data about students with disabilities, ages 3 through 21, who receive special education and related services under Part B of IDEA.
• Michigan’s Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System (EWIMS)  An Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System (EWIMS) is a data-driven, decision-making process that helps educators systematically identify students who are showing signs that they are at risk of dropping out of school, examine the underlying causes of risk and match students’ needs to interventions, and monitor students’ progress and the success of those interventions.
• Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative (MIBLSI)  Students are more likely to succeed when schools address behavior and learning together. Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative (MIBLSI) partners with school districts to help implement and sustain these supports for improved student outcomes.

Additional resources and tools for graduation and drop out management:

• Graduation and Dropout Application (GAD) Link to the state’s official Graduate and Dropout Application (GAD).
• Addressing Dropout Related Factors at the Local Level: Recommendations for Administrators (PDF)  National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities recommendations report for administrators to address drop out at the local level.

Suspension/Expulsion by Race/Ethnicity (B-4B)

Use the information in this section to further explain the Indicator B-4B data elements from the Part B ISD Determinations Matrix.

• Grads 360 Suspension/Expulsion Official of Special Education Programs information on measurement of the B4-B suspension and expulsion indicator.
• B-4 Information Catamaran training site description of the B-4 indicator with link to data source and relevant informational resources.

 Additional resources and tools for B-4B indicator management:

• IDEA Discipline Requirements (PDF) May 2019 OSE guidance on IDEA discipline requirements.
• Alternatives to Suspensions and Expulsions Toolkit This toolkit is designed to accompany the Model Code of Student Conduct and provides guidance on enacting culture change in K-12 schools and addressing behavioral concerns using non-exclusionary methods.
• Technical Assistance for Reducing Suspension and Expulsion (PDF) MDE OSE technical assistance document on how to reduce suspension and expulsion.
• Federal Technical Assistance Information United States Department of Education (USDOE) guidance on school climate and discipline.
• Effective Evidence-Based Practices for Preventing and Addressing Bullying (PDF) USDOE guidance on how to prevent and address bullying.
• Michigan Positive Behavior Support Policy (9/12/2006) (PDF) Michigan State Board of Education policy on positive behavior support.
• Michigan State Board of Education Model Code of Student Conduct 2019 (PDF) MDE Model Code of Student Conduct.
• Discipline: Research-Based Practices Compilation of discipline best practices.
• Sample Discipline Procedure MDE sample special education discipline procedure template.
• Manifestation Determination Review (MDR) (PDF) MDE model form for developing manifestation determination reviews.
• Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative (MIBLSI)  Students are more likely to succeed when schools address behavior and learning together. Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative (MIBLSI) partners with school districts to help implement and sustain these supports for improved student outcomes.
• IDEA Discipline Requirements IDEA requirements for disciplinary decisions.
• Shortened School Day  As part of the protections afforded under IDEA, students with disabilities have the right to attend school for the same length of time in each school day as non-disabled students. Absent a decision by the IEP team based on a student’s unique educational needs, a FAPE includes the right to attend school for the full school day.

Disproportionate Representation – Child with a Disability due to inappropriate identification (B-9)

Use the information in this section to further explain the Indicator B-9 data element from the Part B ISD Determinations Matrix.

• Grads 360: Disproportionate Representation Official of Special Education Programs information on measurement of the B-9 disproportionate representation Child with a Disability due to inappropriate identification indicator.
• B-9 Information Catamaran training site description of the B-9 disproportionate representation Child with a Disability due to inappropriate identification indicator with link to data source and relevant informational resources.
• Sample Evaluation Procedures  MDE sample special education evaluation procedure template.

Disproportionate Representation – Six Disability Categories due to inappropriate identification (B-10)

Use the information in this section to further explain the Indicator B-10 data element from the Part B ISD Determinations Matrix.

• Grads 360: Disproportionate Representation in Specific Disability Categories  Official of Special Education Programs information on measurement of the B-10 disproportionate representation Six Disability Categories due to inappropriate identification indicator
• B-10 Information Catamaran training site description of the B-10 disproportionate representation Six Disability Categories due to inappropriate identification indicator with link to data source and relevant informational resources
• Sample Evaluation Procedures MDE sample special education evaluation procedure template

Child Find (B-11)

Use the information in this section to further explain the Indicator 11: Timely initial evaluation element from the Part B ISD Determinations Matrix.

Information and data source links for the B-11 indicator:

• Grads 360: Child Find  Official of Special Education Programs information on measurement of the B-11 Child Find indicator.
• B-11 Information  Catamaran training site description of the B-11 Child Find indicator with link to data source and relevant informational resources.

Additional resources and tools for B-11 indicator management:

• Probe Questions for SPP Indicator B-11 (PDF) Questions to assess B-11 indicator performance.
• Guidance for Timeline for Initial Evaluations (PDF) MDE guidance for initial special education evaluation timelines.
• Sample Evaluation Procedure (Word) MDE sample special education evaluation procedure template.

Early Childhood Transition (B-12)

Use the information in this section to further explain the Indicator 12: IEP developed and implemented by third birthday element from the Part B ISD Determinations Matrix.

• Grads 360: Early Childhood Transition Official of Special Education Programs information on measurement of the B-12 Early Childhood Transition indicator.
• B-12 Information Catamaran training site description of the B-12 Early Childhood Transition indicator with link to data source and relevant informational resources.

Additional resources and tools for B-12 indicator management:

• SPP Indicator B-12 Probe Questions (PDF) Questions to assess B-12 indicator performance.
• B-12 Business Rule Change Memo, May 2017 (PDF) MDE May 2017 Indicator B-12 (Early Childhood Transition) Business Rule Change Memo.
• B-12 Data Collection Guidance Document, 2017 (PDF) MDE 2017 B-12 (Early Childhood Transition) Data Collection Guidance Document.
• Technical Assistance for State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicator 12 (PDF) 2016 MDE Technical Assistance document for B-12 indicator.
• DaSy: The Center for Early Childhood Data Systems  DaSy works with states to support IDEA early intervention and early childhood special education state programs in the development or enhancement of coordinated early childhood longitudinal data systems.
• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) We are a national technical assistance center focused on building state and local system capacity to improve outcomes for children with disabilities and their families.

Secondary Transition (B-13)

Use the information in this section to further explain the Indicator 13: Secondary transition data element from the Part B ISD Determinations Matrix.

• Grads 360: Secondary Transition  Official of Special Education Programs information on measurement of the B-13 Early Childhood Transition indicator.
• B-13 Information  Catamaran training site description of the B-13 Early Childhood Transition indicator with link to data source and relevant informational resources.

Additional resources and tools for B-13 indicator management:

• SPP Indicator B-13 Probe Questions (PDF)  Questions to assess B-13 indicator performance.
• National Center on Secondary Education and Transition  The National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) resources for managing secondary transition (USDOE funded).
• National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT)  The National Technical Assistance Center (NTACT) resources, best practices and toolkits for managing secondary transition.
• Personal Curriculum  MDE resources for personal curriculum development.

More detail on the next three elements of Determinations below can be found in the following document:

• How the Michigan Department of Education Made Determinations Document received in Determinations packet explaining the indicators and data elements used to make Determinations.

Timely Submission of Data

The timeliness and accuracy of data reported by the ISDs and their member districts/State Agencies (SA) through the Michigan Student Data System (MSDS).

Audit

The ISD/SA Audit Findings.

Long Standing Noncompliance

The Michigan Department of Education Office of Special Education considered whether there were any findings of noncompliance identified and not yet corrected.

2019 Determinations Resources for Reference

• Sample 2019 Determinations Letter (PDF) Letter received in Determinations packet.
• Part B Determinations Fact Sheet (PDF) Fact sheet received in Determinations packet.
• Sample ISD Determinations Matrix (PDF) Results and Compliance Matrix received in Determinations packet.
• Sample Determinations Matrix Template for Use by ISDs (Word) Results and Compliance Matrix Template the ISD may use.
  
• How the Michigan Department of Education Made Determinations Document received in Determinations packet explaining the indicators and data elements used to make Determinations.