Program Approval/Focused Monitoring

New Hampshire State Department of Education
Special Education Program Approval & Improvement Process
The Mission of Special Education Program Approval is to improve educational results for all learners

The New Hampshire Department of Education (NHDOE) is responsible for assessing the impact and effectiveness of state and local efforts to provide a "Free Appropriate Public Education" (FAPE) to children and youth with disabilities, ages 3-21. The NHDOE has contracted with Southeastern Regional Education Service Center (SERESC) to work with families, students, educators and communities of New Hampshire to shape its special education program approval work in a way that drives and supports results for children and youth with disabilities.

Focused Monitoring

During the 2006-2007 school year the NHDOE Bureau of Special Education, in partnership with SERESC, worked with 3 school districts in the design and piloting of a New Special Education Program Approval Model, called "Focused Monitoring." Focused Monitoring is a point of convergence for IDEA 2004 and No Child Left Behind (NCLB), demonstrating that two federal mandates cannot only co-exist, but work together to benefit all students.

Case Study Compliance Review

The Special Education Program Approval and Improvement Model is designed as a self-assessment review for all New Hampshire private schools. The core Case Study Compliance Review is required of private schools at the time of their NHDOE Special Education Program Approval. An in-depth yearlong improvement process is an optional activity available to each site during their approval year.

Both the Case Study Compliance Review and the Yearlong Improvement Process involve teams of general and special educators, parents, students, administrators and school board members working together to assess the work of the school and review related outcomes for students with educational disabilities. The NHDOE Special Education Program Approval and Improvement Process is designed to result in improvement planning that addresses issues of non-compliance as well as identifying goals, activities, and timelines for continuous improvement.

SAU and Private School Final Reports	Forms and Resources
Approved Private Special Education Programs	Request for Out of State Programs Entered into NHSEIS (Form 1)
Program Approval and Improvement Process Year End Reports	Request for Out of State Programs Entered into NHSEIS (Form 2)
NHDOE Special Education Program Approval and Improvement Process	Focused Monitoring

 

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