School districts and campuses across the state are accountable for meeting the state's standards of performance for students and for providing educational programs in accordance with federal and state statutes and regulations. The state's accountability system includes a variety of on-site accountability evaluations designed to obtain information regarding the implementation of educational programs by school districts. As an Agency, it is our goal to identify and recognize quality in educational programming, and to work with school districts to continuously improve in all areas of educational programming.

Beginning with the 2000-2001 school year, as part of our on-site evaluation of a district's special education program, we will be collecting information from parents of special education students through the use of a Parent Survey. In this regard, you will find enclosed the following materials:

(1) a set of Parent Special Education Surveys;
(2) a list of students in your district whose parents are to be provided a Parent Survey; and
(3) a set of return envelopes that have been metered and pre-addressed to the Agency, which the parents may use to send their completed Surveys to the Agency.

Several Spanish-language versions of the Survey are also enclosed.

Please disseminate the Parent Surveys to the parents of all of the students listed on the enclosed "purposeful sample" as soon as possible. We also request that you disseminate the Survey to each individual who is serving as a surrogate parent of a student and to the parents or guardians of each special education student who is residing in a residential facility in your district.

Please include the Agency-addressed envelope with each Survey that you disseminate. If your student list includes more than one student from the same family, you only need to send one Survey to that family.

The Agency appreciates your assistance in the dissemination of the Parent Special Education Survey and your efforts to ensure that quality educational programs are in place for students with disabilities.

If you need additional copies of the Parent Survey, the Spanish-language Survey, or the Agency-addressed return envelopes, or if you should have any questions about the Parent Survey, please contact Dr. Forrest Novy, Director of Special Education Development and Support, at 512-463-9515.

Sincerely,
John T. Fessenden, Senior Director
Division of Accountability Development and Support (DADS)

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