This letter responds to the Maryland Special Needs Advocacy Project and addresses two IDEA fiscal topics, one of which is CEIS. The CEIS question regards calculation of the proportionate share of IDEA funds that must be used by a local educational agency (LEA) to provide services to children with disabilities who are parentally placed in private schools when that LEA is required to provide comprehensive CEIS. For comprehensive CEIS, an LEA is required to reserve exactly 15 percent of its IDEA funds to provide these services when it has been identified with significant disproportionality. OSEP explains that the calculations for the percentage of IDEA funds to reserve for comprehensive CEIS and the proportionate share must be based on the total amount of the IDEA subgrant the LEA receives under 34 CFR §§300.705 and 300.815.

This FAQ document developed by the OSEP-funded IDEA Data Center (IDC) focuses on helping SEAs and LEAs understand CEIS and its reporting requirements. These questions were developed to be used in conjunction with the OSEP Guidance Memo 08-09.

This letter to the Division of Rehabilitation Services and Special Education at the University of Maine, Farmington, discusses the possible uses for CEIS funds including a tiered support system such as response to intervention (RTI) and funding teachers.

This letter to the Michigan Department of Education addresses three IDEA fiscal topics, two of which are maintenance of effort (MOE) and coordinated early intervening services (CEIS). The CEIS question asks about the possibility of reallocating CEIS funds not expended by an LEA. OSEP explains that the funds can only be used for the purposes stated in IDEA and any funds not expended by the LEA when required to expend them due to significant disproportionality would revert to the U. S. Department of Education at the end of the expenditure period for those funds.

This OSEP memo clarifies the use of IDEA funds and other federal funds for CEIS, including the provision that requires the SEA to require the LEA to reserve the maximum amount of funds available for comprehensive CEIS if the SEA identifies significant disproportionality based on race or ethnicity. See 34 CFR §300.646(b)(2).

Developed by CIFR, this checklist helps states calculate complete and accurate data for MFS reporting. The checklist identifies items that should and should not be included in the calculation and highlights considerations for improving data quality. It may be used on its own or alongside CIFR’s MFS Data Collection and Reporting Tool (DCRT) in the MFS Toolkit.

Developed by CIFR, this practice guide assists states in the development of written MFS procedures. It includes recommended components, key questions to consider, and sample text for states to adapt.

Developed by CIFR, this two-page quick reference guide assists states and stakeholders in better understanding the basics of the maintenance of state financial support (MFS) requirements stipulated in the IDEA. The guide describes the requirements, types of financial support states may make available, reporting obligations, and MFS waivers. It concludes with questions and additional resources for states to consider.

This OSEP document provides guidance around the process and criteria used to evaluate state requests for waivers to the maintenance of state financial support requirement.