Districts that have been determined to have significant disproportionate numbers based on race, ethnicity, and/or the identification of children with disabilities, (including those with a particular category of impairment) have been notified by the Arkansas Department of Education’s Special Education Unit to reserve 15 percent of the district’s new Title VI, Part B allocation for providing comprehensive coordinated Early Intervening Services. This applies particularly, but not exclusively, to children in groups that were significantly over-identified. Any district not required to budget and expend these funds may opt to use a maximum of 15 percent of the amount the district receives under Part B for any fiscal year to develop and implement such early intervening services. These services are for students in K-12, with a particular emphasis on K-3, who have not been identified as needing special education or related services but who need additional academic and behavioral support to succeed in a general education environment.
Function code 1297 is to be used for expenditures related to Early Intervening Services if those services pertain to direct instruction. Direct instruction includes the activities dealing directly with the interaction between teachers and students. However, other function codes may be required for some approved Early Intervening Services. For example, Function Codes 2294, 2295, 2297, and 2298 should be used for Instructional Facilitators working with teachers providing Early Intervening Services. Function Code 2213 would be required for Professional Development related to Early Intervening Services.
In order to comply with the Federal requirement, and when necessary prove compliance with the 15% expenditure requirement, it is necessary that Program Code 201 be used beginning with all 2007-2008 expenditures related to Early Intervening Services. The budget unit for all expenditures related to Early Intervening Services must include Program Code 201 prior to submitting Cycle 5 due February 15, 2008.