First Steps Listserv

Subject: Federal FY2006 Part C Application
Source:  Pam Williams, Coordinator Special Education Services

Intended Audience:  SPOEs, SICC, First Steps Consultants, Providers, Service Coordinators
Date:  February 7, 2006

On December 29, 2005 all states and territories received notification from the Office of Special Education Programs, that all states making application for funds under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are required to make available for public review and comment the application packet for those federal IDEA Part C funds.  The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has developed the draft application packet for IDEA Part C funds and by this notice is making the application available for review and comment at http://www.dese.mo.gov/divspeced/FirstSteps/RulesRegs.html  The application packet, developed by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), includes a summary of the certifications, policies, procedures, methods, descriptions, assurances, and IDEA use of fund descriptions that the state will use to implement Part C of the IDEA.  Upon receipt and approval of this application, Missouri will receive approximately $7.6 million in federal IDEA Part C grant for the period July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007.  As you review the application, please note the following:

·    The application is in a format required by OSEP.

·    Missouri is providing general assurance to OSEP that the state will be implementing the provisions of Part C of IDEA 2004 and will complete the revision of the state regulations by June 30, 2007, following the receipt of final federal regulations for IDEA from the federal government.

·    The costs included in this application only reflect those costs attributable to the federal IDEA funds that are allocated to the state of Missouri and not the total cost of the First Steps System.

This application is available for review on the Division website for the next sixty (60) days, until April 7, 2006.  Individuals desiring to submit written comments on the application should address their comments to the attention of Pam Williams at webreplyspefs@dese.mo.gov or PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102 and be postmarked by March 15, 2006.