Resource Library

States can use the Organizer Template for Part B SPP/APR Target Setting to briefly document information for consideration when setting new SPP/APR targets for all indicators in the FFYs 2020–25 SPP/APR collection. States can supplement this overview template with the Indicator Organizer for Part B SPP/APR Stakeholder Involvement and Target Setting, which is designed to capture more detailed information on stakeholder involvement in setting targets for individual SPP/APR indicators.

This interactive resource provides states with an overview on how to gather representative parent involvement data for Part B SPP/APR Indicator 8. The resource defines key concepts such as representativeness, sampling, nonresponse bias, response rates, and weighting. It also offers information on how to improve the quality of parent involvement data, including strategies that can help states collect representative data and evaluate and improve the representativeness of their data before, during, and after data collection. 

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. 

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.

The Survey Response Analysis App (SRA App) is an interactive application powered by state-of-the-art statistical software IDC designed to help states examine their SPP/APR Indicator 8 and Indicator 14 data. The SRA App allows users to conduct reproducible analyses of response rates, representativeness, and nonresponse bias, tailored to their survey’s data collection method.

IDC designed these two technical assistance products to be used by state personnel responsible for IDEA 618 and/or 616 data. The products include a step-by-step guide on completing an outlier analysis, with a brief introduction on the principles of outlier analyses, and a tool state staff can use to conduct outlier analyses with their local data. IDEA Part B state staff working with LEAs also can use both products to analyze their local data.

Does your state have well-documented data processes in place to ensure that IDEA data are timely, accurate, valid, and reliable? If not, contact your IDC State Liaison for help! Using the SEA Data Processes Toolkit, our TA providers can work with state special education staff and others in your state to document your current 616 and 618 data processes. IDC can also assist with improving those processes to ensure consistent practices to collect, analyze and submit high quality data year after year!