Institute on Autism at Florida State University – The 2009 Institute on Autism at Florida State University will be held in Tallahassee, Florida on June 15-19, 2009. The topic for this year’s Institute is Recent Advances in Evidence Based Practice for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Reimbursements will be issued on a first come, first serve basis and the maximum number of participants from any one district that are eligible to receive reimbursement through the Bureau will be as follows: Very large and large districts: 3 participants, up to $300 per participant Medium, medium-small, and small districts: 2 participants, up to $300 per participant
Participants should complete the individual registration forms included in the attached brochure and return them by mail or by facsimile to the Center for Professional Development at Florida State University (CPD-FSU), no later than June 1, 2009. Participants applying for Bureau funding must complete the third party billing section of the registration form and obtain the signature of the exceptional student education (ESE) director.
More information about the Institute, including the registration form, can be found by visiting the FSU-CARD’s Web site at http://autism.fsu.edu. • Filename: 2009 Institute on Autism Brochure.pdf • Link: http://autism.fsu.edu • Contact: Ms. Karen Robins, at (850) 488-4072/(800) 769-7926; or Ms. Sheryl Sandvoss, at
or (850) 245-0478
Clinical Educator Trainer Preparation Session – The Department of Education has issued the following memorandum to announce registration for a Clinical Educator Trainer Session being sponsored by the Department of Education in support of efforts to increase the supply of highly effective teachers. The program is intended to prepare Clinical Educator Trainers to conduct the training program in locally delivered workshops. • Link: http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5375/dps-2009-072.pdf
Medicaid School District Administrative Claiming (SDAC)/Transportation Reimbursement Saved – School districts will be able to continue to receive Medicaid reimbursement for claimable administrative activities through the SDAC Program. As published in the May 6, 2009, issue of The Federal Register, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a proposed rule to rescind CMS Rule 2287. Rule 2287, which is under moratorium until July 1, would have eliminated federal Medicaid reimbursement not only for SDAC, but also for transportation services provided by schools to Medicaid enrolled ESE students. The resulting loss of annual reimbursement to the state’s school districts would have been in the millions of dollars. Florida SDAC reimbursement for 2007, the last full year recorded, amounted to $46.4 million with total state school district remuneration at over $500 million to date. This new regulation establishes a public comment period of 30 days allowing for final rescission prior to the June 30 moratorium deadline. • Filename: Medicaid Final Rule 2287 Rescission.pdf • Contact: Susan Douglas, at
or (850) 487-8716
Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) – Attached is the template for the districts’ Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (SP&P) effective 2009-2010 through 2011-2012 school years. The attached memorandum was disseminated on May 5, 2009, and provides instructions and the timeline for submission. Please submit your completed 2009 SP&P Document to Patricia Howell, Program Director, ESE Monitoring and Compliance, at
• Filename: SP&P Memo.pdf • Filename: 2009 SP&P Document.pdf • Filename: Memo Table.pdf • Contact: Patricia Howell, at
National Center on RtI Webinar – Wednesday, May 20th, 2:00pm to 3:00pm EDT, titled Tiered Instruction and Interventions: Experiences of the Vail (AZ) and Mahtomedi (MN) Districts. Lynne Viker and Denise Waalen from the Mahtomedi School District in Minnesota, and Laurie Emory from the Vail School District in Arizona are joining the National Center on Response to Intervention to present a Webinar on "Tiered Instruction and Interventions." The presenters will share their districts' experiences in implementing RtI at both the elementary and middle school levels. They will provide an overview of their districts' RTI models and implementation, discuss the provision of interventions and tiered instruction, and describe the professional development opportunities provided to prepare teachers for RtI. The presenters will also share lessons learned, tips, and resources they believe are valuable for other districts implementing or considering implementing RtI. For information on how to join the webinar session, visit http://www.rti4success.org/flier/webinar_tieredInstructionInterventions.html. • Link: http://www.rti4success.org/flier/webinar_tieredInstructionInterventions.html
The Florida Council for Exceptional Children (FCEC) Registration 2009 – The FCEC is pleased to announce that registration information is now available for the FCEC conference in October. Pre-registration forms postmarked by September 15, 2009 will receive the pre-registration rate. The conference will be held at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort at Ocean Walk Village. This is always a great opportunity to share expertise and learn from others. Please feel free to share this information in your schools and with other colleagues and stakeholders. Attached is information about registration and hotel reservations. The cut-off date for a hotel reservation at the reduced rate is September 17, 2009. Please visit www.floridacec.org/8daytona.htm Web site for additional information. • Filename: Registration_final_20091 (3).pdf • Filename: Registration 2009 single page (3).doc • Link: www.floridacec.org/8daytona.htm • Contact: Paula Evans, at
Summer Jobs for Teens and Young Adults – The Agency for Workforce Innovation has posted information about Summer Jobs for Teens and Young Adults available through Florida’s 24 regional workforce boards under recovery funds provided through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Teens and young adults must meet eligibility requirements, and local programs vary. Visit the Agency for Workforce Innovation Web site for further information about regional opportunities and eligibility requirements. • Link: http://www.floridajobs.org/publications/news_rel/summerjobtraining.htm
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
Maintenance of Effort and the 50% Flexibility Requirements – The attached memorandum from Chancellor Haithcock and Linda Champion was disseminated on May 1, 2009, and discusses the Maintenance of Effort and the 50% Flexibility Requirements. • Filename: SKMBT_C35309043018280.pdf
Reading Endorsement Competencies Completed in Approved Preservice Programs The Department of Education has issued the following memorandum to provide new information, as well as some reminders, regarding Reading Endorsement competencies that may be included in approved preservice teacher preparation programs. When Rule 6A-5.066, F.A.C., was revised in 2006, it included specific Reading Endorsement competencies that must be completed by candidates in all types of approved teacher preparation programs. The Just Read, Florida! Office and the Educator Preparation Section within the Florida Department of Education have worked closely to approve multiple delivery forms of these competencies. The memorandum will identify the conditions under which Reading Endorsement Competencies completed from a Florida postsecondary institution can be considered by school district Professional Development Directors in lieu of required inservice components in Reading. • Link: http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5380/dps-2009-066.pdf
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Statewide Meeting – The meeting was held in Tampa, Florida on May 6, 2009, and was sponsored by Florida Department of Education. Dr. Eric Smith, Commissioner and representatives from the Florida Association of District School Superintendents opened the meeting. Several concurrent sessions were presented including IDEA and Title I. The materials from the IDEA presentation are attached. For more information, visit www.fldoe.org/arra or email
• Filename: ARRA IDEA 5-6-09.pdf • Filename: RtI Coach Skill Set.pdf • Filename: 0910 Prep Appn for Districts.doc • Link: www.fldoe.org/arra • Contact:
