State Reporting Requirements
IDEA requires states to submit a number of reports for both state and federal accountability purposes. These reports include data reports as well as performance reports.
State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR)
Public Law 108-446 (IDEA 2004) requires that no later than one year after the date of enactment (i.e., December 3, 2005), each State Education Agency and Lead Agency for Part C must develop and submit to OSEP a six year State Performance Plan (SPP). The SPP is designed to evaluate the State's efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of Part B and Part C respectively and describe how the state will improve its implementation. Each state is required to report annually to the public and to OSEP on each local education agency's and Part C program's performance on the targets in the SPP through an Annual Performance Report (APR).
The conference report to HR 1350 indicates that Congress expected that the SPP, including its indicators and targets, would be developed by states with broad stakeholder input and public dissemination. As a result, States needed to carefully plan on how they would complete these activities. The SPP required that states collect and analyze baseline data to respond to specific priorities and indicators, establish measurable and rigorous targets, and identify improvement activities to ensure improved performance for each indicator during the six-year time frame (FFY 2005 through FFY 2010).
In accordance with 20 U.S.C. 1416(b)(2)(C)(ii)(II) and 1442, each state is required to submit a State Annual Performance Report (APR). This report includes data on the progress and/or slippage in meeting the 'measurable and rigorous targets' in the SPP and may serve as the state's annual report to the public/Secretary. The next APR is due in February 1, 2010. Each state is required to post its SPP/APR on its' state website. If a state modifies its targets or other baseline information, the changes must be reported to OSEP.
SPP/APR Resources
Please see our Part C and Section 619 pages for SPP/APR Resources.
Current SPP/APR General Guidance/Instructions including tables, templates and attachments are available on the Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network's The Right IDEA Web site, designed to assist states with the timely preparation of their SPPs and APRs.
The Right IDEA has links to all materials related to completion of the SPP/APRs for both Part C and Part B, including technical assistance related to SPP indicators and determinations . In addition, the Office of Special Education Programs participates in monthly Technical Assistance calls to offer guidance to states as they work on their plans and reports. The schedule of calls and any related materials are posted in the site.
Section 618 Data Reports
Section 618 of IDEA requires states to annually collect and report data related to children served, settings of services, personnel, the status of children exiting the program, and other areas specific to Part C and Part B. The OSEP-funded Data Accountability Center maintains the ideadata.org Web site with: Part C data tables, Part B data tables, trend data, and technical assistance materials for data reporting. States' data is reported in the Annual Reports to Congress.