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Notes

34 C.F.R. §§ 303.700–303.707

8 sections in range

§303.700. State monitoring and enforcement.

34 C.F.R. § 303.700

(a)
The lead agency must—
(1)
Monitor the implementation of this part;
(2)
Make determinations annually about the performance of each EIS program using the categories identified in § 303.703(b);
(3)
Enforce this part consistent with § 303.704, using appropriate enforcement mechanisms, which must include, if applicable, the enforcement mechanisms identified in § 303.704(a)(1) (technical assistance) and § 303.704(a)(2) (imposing conditions on the lead agency's funding of an EIS program or, if the lead agency does not provide part C funds to the EIS program, an EIS provider), § 303.704(b)(2)(i) (corrective action or improvement plan) and § 303.704(b)(2)(iv) (withholding of funds, in whole or in part by the lead agency), and § 303.704(c)(2) (withholding of funds, in whole or in part by the lead agency); and
(4)
Report annually on the performance of the State and of each EIS program under this part as provided in § 303.702.
(b)
The primary focus of the State's monitoring activities must be on—
(1)
Improving early intervention results and functional outcomes for all infants and toddlers with disabilities; and
(2)
Ensuring that EIS programs meet the program requirements under part C of the Act, with a particular emphasis on those requirements that are most closely related to improving early intervention results for infants and toddlers with disabilities.
(c)
As a part of its responsibilities under paragraph (a) of this section, the State must use quantifiable indicators and such qualitative indicators as are needed to adequately measure performance in the priority areas identified in paragraph (d) of this section, and the indicators established by the Secretary for the State performance plans.
(d)
The lead agency must monitor each EIS program located in the State, using quantifiable indicators in each of the following priority areas, and using such qualitative indicators as are needed to adequately measure performance in those areas:
(1)
Early intervention services in natural environments.
(2)
State exercise of general supervision, including child find, effective monitoring, the use of resolution sessions (if the State adopts part B due process hearing procedures under § 303.430(d)(2)), mediation, and a system of transition services as defined in section 637(a)(9) of the Act.
(e)
In exercising its monitoring responsibilities under paragraph (d) of this section, the State must ensure that when it identifies noncompliance with the requirements of this part by EIS programs and providers, the noncompliance is corrected as soon as possible and in no case later than one year after the State's identification of the noncompliance.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

§303.701. State performance plans and data collection.

34 C.F.R. § 303.701

(a)
General. Each State must have in place a performance plan that meets the requirements described in section 616 of the Act; is approved by the Secretary; and includes an evaluation of the State's efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of part C of the Act, a description of how the State will improve implementation, and measurable and rigorous targets for the indicators established by the Secretary under the priority areas described in § 303.700(d).
(b)
Review of State performance plan. Each State must review its State performance plan at least once every six years and submit any amendments to the Secretary.
(c)
Data collection.
(1)
Each State must collect valid and reliable information as needed to report annually to the Secretary under § 303.702(b)(2) on the indicators established by the Secretary for the State performance plans.
(2)
If the Secretary permits States to collect data on specific indicators through State monitoring or sampling, and the State collects data for a particular indicator through State monitoring or sampling, the State must collect and report data on those indicators for each EIS program at least once during the six-year period of a State performance plan.
(3)
Nothing in part C of the Act or these regulations may be construed to authorize the development of a nationwide database of personally identifiable information on individuals involved in studies or other collections of data under part C of the Act.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

§303.702. State use of targets and reporting.

34 C.F.R. § 303.702

(a)
General. Each State must use the targets established in the State's performance plan under § 303.701 and the priority areas described in § 303.700(d) to analyze the performance of each EIS program in implementing part C of the Act.
(b)
Public reporting and privacy.
(1)
Public report.
(i)
Subject to paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, the State must—
(A)
Report annually to the public on the performance of each EIS program located in the State on the targets in the State's performance plan as soon as practicable but no later than 120 days following the State's submission of its annual performance report to the Secretary under paragraph (b)(2) of this section; and
(B)
Make the State's performance plan under § 303.701(a), annual performance reports under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, and the State's annual reports on the performance of each EIS program under paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) of this section available through public means, including by posting on the Web site of the lead agency, distribution to the media, and distribution to EIS programs.
(ii)
If the State, in meeting the requirements of paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) of this section, collects data through State monitoring or sampling, the State must include in its public report on EIS programs under paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) of this section the most recently available performance data on each EIS program and the date the data were collected.
(2)
State performance report. The State must report annually to the Secretary on the performance of the State under the State's performance plan.
(3)
Privacy. The State must not report to the public or the Secretary any information on performance that would result in the disclosure of personally identifiable information about individual children, or where the available data are insufficient to yield statistically reliable information.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

§303.703. Secretary's review and determination regarding State performance.

34 C.F.R. § 303.703

(a)
Review. The Secretary annually reviews the State's performance report submitted pursuant to § 303.702(b)(2).
(b)
Determination.
(1)
General. Based on the information provided by the State in the State's annual performance report, information obtained through monitoring visits, and any other public information made available, the Secretary determines if the State—
(i)
Meets the requirements and purposes of part C of the Act;
(ii)
Needs assistance in implementing the requirements of part C of the Act;
(iii)
Needs intervention in implementing the requirements of part C of the Act; or
(iv)
Needs substantial intervention in implementing the requirements of part C of the Act.
(2)
Notice and opportunity for a hearing.
(i)
For determinations made under paragraphs (b)(1)(iii) and (b)(1)(iv) of this section, the Secretary provides reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing on those determinations.
(ii)
The hearing described in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section consists of an opportunity to meet with the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to demonstrate why the Secretary should not make the determination described in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) or (b)(1)(iv) of this section.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

§303.704. Enforcement.

34 C.F.R. § 303.704

(a)
Needs assistance. If the Secretary determines, for two consecutive years, that a State needs assistance under § 303.703(b)(1)(ii) in implementing the requirements of part C of the Act, the Secretary takes one or more of the following actions:
(1)
Advises the State of available sources of technical assistance that may help the State address the areas in which the State needs assistance, which may include assistance from the Office of Special Education Programs, other offices of the Department of Education, other Federal agencies, technical assistance providers approved by the Secretary, and other federally funded nonprofit agencies, and requires the State to work with appropriate entities. This technical assistance may include—
(i)
The provision of advice by experts to address the areas in which the State needs assistance, including explicit plans for addressing the areas of concern within a specified period of time;
(ii)
Assistance in identifying and implementing professional development, early intervention service provision strategies, and methods of early intervention service provision that are based on scientifically based research;
(iii)
Designating and using administrators, service coordinators, service providers, and other personnel from the EIS program to provide advice, technical assistance, and support; and
(iv)
Devising additional approaches to providing technical assistance, such as collaborating with institutions of higher education, educational service agencies, national centers of technical assistance supported under part D of the Act, and private providers of scientifically based technical assistance.
(2)
Identifies the State as a high-risk grantee and imposes special conditions on the State's grant under part C of the Act.
(b)
Needs intervention. If the Secretary determines, for three or more consecutive years, that a State needs intervention under § 303.703(b)(1)(iii) in implementing the requirements of part C of the Act, the following apply:
(1)
The Secretary may take any of the actions described in paragraph (a) of this section.
(2)
The Secretary takes one or more of the following actions—
(i)
Requires the State to prepare a corrective action plan or improvement plan if the Secretary determines that the State should be able to correct the problem within one year.
(ii)
Requires the State to enter into a compliance agreement under section 457 of the General Education Provisions Act, as amended (GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1234f, if the Secretary has reason to believe that the State cannot correct the problem within one year.
(iii)
Seeks to recover funds under section 452 of GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1234a.
(iv)
Withholds, in whole or in part, any further payments to the State under part C of the Act.
(v)
Refers the matter for appropriate enforcement action, which may include referral to the Department of Justice.
(c)
Needs substantial intervention. Notwithstanding paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, at any time that the Secretary determines that a State needs substantial intervention in implementing the requirements of part C of the Act or that there is a substantial failure to comply with any requirement under part C of the Act by the lead agency or an EIS program in the State, the Secretary takes one or more of the following actions:
(1)
Recovers funds under section 452 of GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1234a.
(2)
Withholds, in whole or in part, any further payments to the State under part C of the Act.
(3)
Refers the case to the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Education.
(4)
Refers the matter for appropriate enforcement action, which may include referral to the Department of Justice.
(d)
Report to Congress. The Secretary reports to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate within 30 days of taking enforcement action pursuant to paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this section, on the specific action taken and the reasons why enforcement action was taken.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

§303.705. Withholding funds.

34 C.F.R. § 303.705

(a)
Opportunity for hearing. Prior to withholding any funds under part C of the Act, the Secretary provides reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing to the lead agency involved, pursuant to the procedures in §§ 303.231 through 303.236.
(b)
Suspension. Pending the outcome of any hearing to withhold payments under paragraph (a) of this section, the Secretary may suspend payments to a recipient, suspend the authority of the recipient to obligate funds under part C of the Act, or both, after the recipient has been given reasonable notice and an opportunity to show cause why future payments or authority to obligate funds under part C of the Act should not be suspended.
(c)
Nature of withholding.
(1)
Limitation. If the Secretary determines that it is appropriate to withhold further payments under section 616(e)(2) or (e)(3) of the Act, the Secretary may determine—
(i)
That such withholding will be limited to programs or projects, or portions of programs or projects, that affected the Secretary's determination under § 303.703(b)(1); or
(ii)
That the lead agency must not make further payments of funds under part C of the Act to specified State agencies, EIS programs or, if the lead agency does not provide part C funds to the EIS program, EIS providers that caused or were involved in the Secretary's determination under § 303.703(b)(1).
(2)
Withholding until rectified. Until the Secretary is satisfied that the condition that caused the initial withholding has been substantially rectified—
(i)
Payments to the State under part C of the Act must be withheld in whole or in part; and
(ii)
Payments by the lead agency under part C of the Act must be limited to State agencies and EIS providers whose actions did not cause or were not involved in the Secretary's determination under § 303.703(b)(1).
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

§303.706. Public attention.

34 C.F.R. § 303.706

Whenever a State receives notice that the Secretary is proposing to take or is taking an enforcement action pursuant to § 303.704, the State must, by means of a public notice, take such measures as may be necessary to bring the pendency of an action pursuant to section 616(e) of the Act and § 303.704 of the regulations to the attention of the public within the State, including by posting the notice on the Web site of the lead agency and distributing the notice to the media and to EIS programs.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

§303.707. Rule of construction.

34 C.F.R. § 303.707

Nothing in this subpart may be construed to restrict the Secretary from utilizing any authority under GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1221 et seq., the regulations in 34 CFR parts 76, 77, and 81, and 2 CFR part 200, to monitor and enforce the requirements of the Act, including the imposition of special or high-risk conditions under 2 CFR 200.207 and 3474.5(e).
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Amendments

[79 FR 76097, Dec. 19, 2014]

Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

Amendments

[79 FR 76097, Dec. 19, 2014]