Maryland State Department of Education Launching Public Web Site

[Howard Hartman]

Maryland State Department of Education Launching Public
Web Site Featuring State Performance Plan Results

BALTIMORE, MD (July 11, 2007)

As required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) developed State Performance Plans (SPPs) for Maryland's early intervention and special
education systems for the 2005-2010 time period. The results of those plans, which serve as a blueprint for improvement for services to children with disabilities and their families in the State, are being made available on an easily accessible Web site.

The SPP for the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program (Part C) includes 14 compliance and performance indicators for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The SPP for the State's special education program (Part B) includes 20 indicators for special education services for children with disabilities
ages 3-21 years. Baseline data for each indicator was collected in 2004-2005, and State targets were established based on the requirements in IDEA.

Beginning in 2007, MSDE is required to submit a Part C and Part B Annual Performance Report (APR) to the Office of Special Education Programs on the status of the State's progress against the targets set in the SPP. MSDE also is required to report the annual progress of local infants and toddlers programs and special education programs within local school systems for designated indicators on the new Web site accessible to the public.

The new Web site will display the 2005-2006 State and local results for the indicators in the SPP. Each year, the current data reported in the APR will be added for comparison to the previous year's results. Data for new indicators will be added to the site as it is collected and reported.

The Web site has dynamic graphics based on the Maryland map, which allows visitors to the site to view performance data for the State, each jurisdiction, and each indicator. The Web site went live on July 11, 2007.

Go to this site