OSPI outlines federal special‑education rules, timelines and monitoring responsibilities

Tanya May, assistant superintendent for special education at the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, told the House Education Committee on the purpose and major provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and how IDEA interacts with other federal laws.

May said IDEA "ensures that students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education with specialized services through what's called an individualized education program or IEP." She contrasted IDEA with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and its 2015 update, the Every Student Succeeds Act, saying ESEA focuses on equity, academic achievement and accountability for all students while IDEA focuses on special‑education services and access to the general curriculum.

Committee members sought practical detail about eligibility, timelines and oversight. May summarized the common ground between the laws: both require inclusion of students with disabilities in statewide assessments and data collection on student performance. She emphasized the state and district duties under IDEA: OSPI oversees compliance and monitoring while districts develop and implement IEPs and provide services in the least restrictive environment.

May outlined the three statutory…