All school districts, educational co-ops, open-enrollment charter schools, and state-operated educational programs are reminded of the importance of the upcoming Arkansas Public School Computer Network (APSCN) Cycle 4 data submission requirements for special education child count and special education personnel. APSCN Cycle 4 closes on December 15, 2006.
Recently, there has been some discussion of how to report students, for the December 1, 2006, child count, being served in private residential treatment facilities, correctional facilities (juvenile detention, Arkansas Department of Corrections, Division of Youth Services), and parentally-placed students in private K-12 schools. Federal reporting requires providing the location where the student is receiving educational services on December 1. This location may be different from what is actually stated in the student’s current individualized education program (IEP). For example, a student’s IEP indicates that the student is being served 80% or more of the day in the regular classroom (RG); however, on December 1 the student is receiving treatment in a psychiatric residential facility. For the December 1 Child Count, the student will be reported as receiving educational services in a private residential facility. Similarly, students in a correctional facility will be reported as receiving educational services under the code for correctional facility (CF). The CF code is a new federal placement code that went into effect for the 2006-2007 school year. In addition, students parentally-placed in private K-12 schools (not through a tuition agreement with a public school) will be reported under a new federal code for students parentally-placed in private schools.
To further assist districts in reporting the December 1 child count and personnel data accurately, a series of web teleconferences will be held November 28-30, 2006. To register for a web teleconference, go to www.arswis.info.
Please direct any questions to Dr. Jody Fields or Ms. Katina White at 501-683-7219.