MEDMS/Infinite Campus State Edition Behavior Module is Now Available for the Mandatory Reporting of Incidents of Prohibited Behavior for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Title IV-A

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 49
POLICY CODE: JF/KLL

TO: Superintendents of Schools, Assistant Superintendents, School Principals, Special Education Directors and Career and Technical Education Directors
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner
DATE: December 24, 2008
RE: MEDMS/Infinite Campus State Edition Behavior Module is Now Available for the Mandatory Reporting of Incidents of Prohibited Behavior for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Title IV-A

All school administrative units (SAUs) are required to enter 2008-2009 incidents data, including the student identification number of those involved, into the MEDMS/Infinite Campus State Edition Behavior Module which captures data on ALL students. Schools that send students to career and technical education centers are responsible for collecting and entering incidents involving those students.

The use of one reporting tool for ALL students, the MEDMS/Infinite Campus State Edition Behavior Module, will result in more efficient use of the SAUs’ time in reporting these data, and more timely consolidation of the data for use by the Department.

The Department is required to report this data under NCLB and IDEA.

NCLB Title IV-A is required to collect and report incidents data under Section 4112 (c) (3), UNIFORM MANAGEMENT INFORMATION AND REPORTING SYSTEM. http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg51.html

The Department’s Office of Special Services (OSS) is required under IDEA to report this data to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). [34 CFR 300.601(b)][20 U.S.C. 1416 (a) and (b)] http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cdynamic%2CTopicalBrief%2C24%2C

The method for reporting is through Maine’s State Performance Plan (SPP) Annual Performance Report (APR). The Department’s OSS is directed by US OSEP (20 USC 1412(a) (22) and 34 CFR 300.170) on reporting requirements which are substantiated by the SPP stakeholder group , the Maine Advisory Council for the Education of Children with Disabilities (MACECD). These include (1) comparing the rates of suspension and expulsion for children with disabilities with the rates for those children without disabilities and (2) the duration of suspensions and expulsions. Children who are involved in an incident of prohibitive behavior must be identified. http://www.maine.gov/education/edletrs/2007/ilet/07ilet086.htm

The requirement for reporting comparison of regular education and special education students by duration of suspensions and expulsions is on OSEP’s Table 5. To view, click on “Indicator Measurement Table” link under Part B SPP/APR Materials, then look under “Data Source” for Indicator 4 on page 3. http://www.nectac.org/topics/quality/statereq.asp#state

It is highly recommended that the SAU and the schools under its jurisdiction establish routine training and oversight procedures for those who will be collecting and entering data into the MEDMS/Infinite Campus State Edition Behavior Module. These procedures should result in accurate and timely submission of incidents data.

The training materials include a step-by-step PowerPoint presentation and a recorded WebEx training session. Instructions on how to access and enter data in the Behavior module are posted on the Project Portal at: http://support.infinitecampus.com/maine/pages/behavior-entry-training.php

The following guidance documents are designed to assist staff and faculty when identifying behavior that is reportable. These documents can be found at the location specified.

Guidance provided by NCLB to assist data entry for ALL students, “Reporting Incidents of Prohibited Behavior and List of Reportable Incident Types,” is in: http://www.maine.gov/education/medms/Student/reportingsdfsincidents.html

Additional guidance to meet IDEA requirements “Definitions Regarding Discipline of Special Education Students” is in: http://www.maine.gov/education/medms/SpecEdDisciplineDefinitions.html

While it is important to train and support staff and faculty who collect and enter the data, it is just as important that the staff and faculty who work with students in your schools understand the incidents that are required to be reported and how they must be reported. Please forward this letter to all those who will need to understand the purpose and reporting requirements such as site disciplinarians and MEDMS support personnel.

For specific inquiries regarding the discipline policy applicable to special education students please email Dr. Pamela Rosen (pam.rosen@maine.gov ). For specific inquiries on the policy regarding safe/drug-free schools please call Linda Phillips at 207-287-8904 or Peter Brough at 207-287-6475. For technical questions regarding the MEDMS/Infinite Campus State Edition Behavior Module please contact the MEDMS helpdesk at MEDMS.helpdesk@maine.gov or 207-624-6896.