Program Improvement

The Special Education Program Improvement Team collaborates with school districts to ensure improved educational results and functional outcomes for all children with disabilities. Washington’s program improvement system includes a review of both quantitative data and qualitative information provided by districts to ensure that districts are implementing the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004.

Program Improvement Process

The program improvement process includes:

• Data Collection and Analysis (Quantitative Data): Special education district performance data across the federally-mandated indicators
• Technical assistance Resources for improving the performance across the indicators of the state performance plan
• Integrated Monitoring (WISM): Monitoring activities designed to promote special education program effectiveness and ensure that the state supervision and oversight requirements for special education programs are met.

Impacts of Program Improvement Process

Data and information collected through the program improvement process impacts:

• Identification & Correction of Non-compliance
  • Official notification of non-compliance findings is provided to districts through iGrants Form Package 442.
  • Districts are required to correct all issues of non-compliance as soon as possible, but no later than one year from identification. The verification (confirmation) of corrections by the local Educational Service District (ESD) and the validation (approval) of corrections by OSPI must also occur within this one year timeline.
  • Failure to complete corrections in a timely manner will impact the district’s Determination level.
• Annual Determinations
• Significant Disproportionality

Improving Services in Partnership with Federal Special Education Monitoring

Washington is participating in Differentiated Monitoring Supports (DMS) with Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to review and make improvements both on compliance and improvement results for students with disabilities. We welcome this opportunity to evaluate current systems and make improvements to support better systems and outcomes for our state.

Through this opportunity we will be: 

• engaging in continuous improvement, 
• authentically engaging with partners across education and their lived experiences, 
• designing better systems and supports for students, families and educators. 

Washington's Journey with DMS

Learn more about Washington’s journey with DMS by engaging with this short video and timeline.