| Information Only |
December 1, 2000
TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ADDRESSED:
SUBJECT: Program Analysis System and Special Education Data Analysis System Methodology, School Year 2001-02
This is to inform you that the document describing the methodology for analyzing data elements in the Texas Education Agency's Program Analysis System (PAS) and Special Education Data Analysis System (DAS) will be publicly released and posted on the Agency's website (www.tea.state.tx.us) on Friday, December 8, 2000. The PAS is the process used by the Agency to analyze data elements in special programs, other than special education, operated by districts. Specifically, the PAS includes an analysis of data elements in the following 12 program areas:
· Bilingual
· Career and Technology
· Emergency Immigrant
· Gifted and Talented
· Migrant
· Optional Extended Year
· State Compensatory
· Title I, Part A
· Title I, Part D, Subpart 2
· Title II - Eisenhower
· Title IV - Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities
· Title VI - Innovative
The DAS is the process used by the Agency to analyze data elements in each district's special education program.
The Agency will use the PAS, the DAS, and information obtained from complaints filed with the Agency regarding special education in selecting school districts for on-site comprehensive District Effectiveness and Compliance (DEC) reviews during the 2001-02 school year. In addition, certain school districts will be selected for comprehensive on-site DEC reviews based on the 6-year cycle that was originally developed beginning with the 1996-97 school year. The Agency also anticipates using the DAS and information obtained from complaints filed with the Agency concerning special education to identify certain school districts that will be required to participate in a self-evaluation and review of their special education programs during the 2001-02 school year. By January 31, 2001, the Agency will announce all school districts selected to receive a comprehensive on-site DEC visit or to participate in a special education self-evaluation and review during the 2001-02 school year.
In order to provide education service center personnel an advanced opportunity to review the PAS and DAS methodology, we will send you an electronic copy of the methodology document on Wednesday, December 6, 2000. We realize that this e-mail communication will give service center personnel little time to review the document before it is released to school districts and members of the public; however, we hope that disseminating the document to service centers at least a few days before it is made generally available will help provide service center personnel with some lead time in preparing for the questions that they will almost certainly receive from school districts.
The Agency will host a Texas Education Telecommunications Network
(TETN) session from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Monday, December 18,
2000 to try to answer any questions that you or your staff may have
about the PAS and DAS methodologies or the process of selecting
school districts for monitoring activities. Letters advising school
districts of the availability of the PAS and DAS methodology
document will be mailed to superintendents and education service
centers on December 8, 2000. As always, we appreciate your support.
Sincerely,
Karen Case, Associate Commissioner
Quality, Compliance, and Accountability Reviews