Policy and Accountability Branch

The Policy and Accountability Branch assists local lead agencies, local school systems, and public agencies in the development, revision, and implementation of policies, procedures, and practices for the provision of early intervention services and special education and related services, as required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). The Branch fulfills the role of federal liaison to the Office Of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for Part C and Part B of the IDEA. It is the Branch’s responsibility to lead the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program (MITP), to manage the Part C and Part B database systems, and to develop Statewide resource documents, guidelines, and technical assistance materials.

The Branch coordinates cross-divisional teams, the State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC), and other stakeholders to develop and submit federal Part C and Part B 618 data, and the Part C and the Part B State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR) to the OSEP. The Branch is charged with aligning Part C and Part B general supervision and oversight responsibilities by developing and implementing a data-informed, differentiated, birth through 21 monitoring system focused on results driven accountability.

Accountability to Improve Performance Montitoring Process

Accountability to Improve Performance (AIP) is the DEI/SES's comprehensive monitoring process specifically aimed at examining early intervention and special education performance.  AIP is used to identify compliance with federal and State regulations and analyze gaps in child and student performance within and across the Strategic Plan's three Action Imperatives: Early Childhood, Access, Equity, Progress; and Secondary Transition - to ensure that Maryland continues to narrow the achievement gap between children with disabilities and their nondisabled peers.

Listed below are the AIP Performance Monitoring Manual and the audit tools.

• Accountability to Improve Performance Monitoring Manual
  
• Desk Audit Tool
  
• Alternate Education Framework Audit Tool
  
• Restraint and Seclusion Documentation Audit Tool
  
• Policies and Procedures Audit Tool