Resource Library

This resource provides a summary of findings from 28 states’ publicly available LEA determinations processes. States can use this resource to learn more about the data elements, calculation methodologies, and determination category criteria these 28 states used for making LEA determinations. This information can be particularly valuable for those states considering revisions and updates to their own LEA determinations processes.

States are allowed to use sampling for collecting data for select Part B State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report indicators. Sampling can provide an effective means for targeting resources for data collection and improving data quality. However, there are important requirements that states must consider when designing and implementing their sampling plans. States can use this interactive self-assessment tool to determine whether their state’s sampling plan addresses Office of Special Education Programs sampling requirements for best practice and to identify action steps to improve their sampling procedures.

Building Your SPP/APR Stakeholder Engagement Plan: 10 Essential Questions can help states develop and report on authentic and broad stakeholder engagement as required in the FFY 2020–2025 SPP/APR. This interactive resource guides states through 10 key questions they should be asking themselves as they build their stakeholder engagement plans. Each question provides detailed options to consider that will assist states in preparing to describe their engagement activities in their SPPs/APRs.

The Significant Disproportionality Calculator is a spreadsheet application that the IDEA Data Center (IDC) created to help states analyze their data, make determinations of significant disproportionality, and support local education agencies (LEAs) in their analysis of data for significant disproportionality at the school-level. The accompanying user’s guide describes each worksheet within the calculator, formatting requirements, and instructions for using the calculator.

The Preschool Environments Toolkit provides materials and resources to help state education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) collect, report, analyze, and use preschool environments data. State Part B data managers, 619 coordinators, local 619 personnel, technical assistance providers, and other interested parties can use the toolkit to help them report Educational Environments data for children ages 3 through 5 with disabilities enrolled in preschool and receiving services under Part B of IDEA. The toolkit includes materials related to IDEA Section 618 federal reporting requirements and populating Part B SPP/APR Indicator 6, and it offers a Preschool Environments Calculator and Data Analysis Tool to help states calculate and analyze Indicator 6 preschool educational environments data. 

Response rate and representativeness are important terms in survey work.  Consideration of both is necessary to ensure that collected data are valid and generalizable.  This resource briefly defines and compares the terms while also explaining how they relate to nonresponse bias. 

The Interactive Institutes 2020 – Building and Sustaining a Culture of High-Quality Data provided opportunities for participants to take a deep dive into data quality topics to learn about data culture change. Participants were able to discover best practices to improve data collection, reporting, analysis, and use. They also engaged with peers and TA providers about trending data quality topics. Each session presented powerful ideas and actionable plans to improve work processes and data quality.