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The Equity
Assurance and Compliance Unit coordinates
activities for parents/legal guardians, students
of age, and staff
who request
administrative reviews, mediation and due process
hearings. It processes requests for administrative
reviews, mediation
sessions and hearings, assigns cases to appropriate
staff, reviews records, and schedules and participates
in briefings and hearings. This office handles complaints
concerning children with disabilities made to the
Maryland State Department of Education and the Office
of Civil Rights. This
office monitors placements of students with disabilities
to reduce
the
overrepresentation of African American children in
special education.
This office
also provides technical support and assistance
to ensure
systemwide compliance with federal and state Special
Education laws and regulations. Contact: Alison Steinfels, Supervisor - (301) 517-5864
The Placement and Assessment
Services Unit coordinates
and monitors the placement of students with disabilities
into and out of intensive special education programs
through the IEP team at the Central level. Assessing
a child's needs and determining an appropriate
placement are essential before a child may
begin receiving
special education services. The placement unit
provides case
management for students in nonpublic programs that
includes participating in and monitoring the development
and implementation of the Individualized Education
Program (IEP), monitoring the quality of instructional
programs in nonpublic placements and ensuring that
services are delivered in compliance with mandated
procedures. The unit also provides accountability
for tuition funds for nonpublic placements and
monitors the cost of those programs. The assessment
unit provides
assessments and services for students who have
been referred through their private/parochial
school,
and
students who have been placed in psychiatric hospitals.
The division also supports schools in obtaining
assessments within mandated timelines. Contact: David Patterson, Supervisor, (301) 279-3733
The Medical
Assistance Program administers
the process of obtaining reimbursement for
allowable
special
education services and coordination services
provided to students
with disabilities. Major activities include procedural
training and program support to service providers
and coordinators, fiscal monitoring, and a systemic
review
of process and procedures to maximize funding
reimbursement. Contact: Daniel Rindfuss, Project Specialist, (301) 279-3714 |
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