Special Education

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Office of Special Education - Our Purpose

To lead the improvement of outcomes for preparing all children and students with disabilities and their families for learning, earning, and living through effective use of data, collaboration, communication, and a framework of differentiated support.

2025 NECounts and District Annual Determinations
Public Comments Accepted - January 16, 2025 - February 15, 2025

The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) is offering the public the opportunity to comment on its proposal to change certain elements of NECounts and district annual determinations.

NDE is required to make an annual determination on the performance of each school district under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), consistent with sections 616(a) and (e) of the IDEA. NDE makes this district annual determination using both outcome and compliance data. NDE is also required to assess each school district for risk under the Uniform Grant Guidance, determining the school district’s risk of noncompliance with federal statutes and regulations and whether the school district may not achieve intended outcomes with federal special education dollars. NDE combines the data analysis, technical assistance, and monitoring of NECounts and district annual determinations in one process, NECounts and district annual determination.

34 C.F.R. § 300.165(a) requires a State to “ensure that there are public hearings, adequate notice of the hearings, and an opportunity for comment available to the general public, including individuals with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities” prior to adopting any policies or procedures that the State needs to comply with Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In addition to this requirement, NDE is genuinely interested in the feedback of stakeholders on implementing these very important processes.

This proposed technical guide, “2025 NECounts and District Annual Determinations” may be reviewed on the NDE – Office of Special Education Website at https://www.education.ne.gov/sped/, outlines the processes NDE’s Office of Special Education proposes to use for the 2025 NECounts and district annual determinations, which will be released September 1, 2025. NDE will accept and consider public comments prior to adopting this technical guide.

Please submit written comments to nde.SPEDRFP@nebraska.gov or mail comments to Office of Special Education, Nebraska Department of Education, 500 S. 84th St., 2nd Floor Lincoln, Nebraska, 68510-2611.

For specific questions related to NDE requests for comments, please contact Kelly Wojcik at kelly.wojcik@nebraska.gov.

PUBLIC HEARING - 2.25.25

Zoom Info - Coming Soon!

The Department of Education, Office of Special Education will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, commencing at 3:00 pm (CT) on The Office of Special Education’s NECounts and District Annual Determinations Guide that is currently out for public comment .  Testimony will be received via ZOOM.

As a condition of receiving IDEA funds, the State agency (which is the SEA under IDEA Part B Section 611 and Section 619 and the LA under IDEA Part C) must have a general supervision system. This system includes multiple components such as monitoring to — (1) improve educational results and functional outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families and children with disabilities; and (2) ensure that LEAs and EIS programs and providers meet the requirements under IDEA. State General Supervision Responsibilities Under Parts B and C of the IDEA (link to: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/files/Guidance_on_State_General_Supervision_Responsibilities_under_Parts_B_and_C_of_IDEA-07-24-2023.pdf )

As a condition of receiving IDEA funds, the State agency (which is the SEA under IDEA Part B Section 611 and Section 619 and the LA under IDEA Part C) must have a general supervision system. This system includes multiple components such as monitoring to — (1) improve educational results and functional outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families and children with disabilities; and (2) ensure that LEAs and EIS programs and providers meet the requirements under IDEA.

State General Supervision Responsibilities Under Parts B and C of the IDEA

Nebraska finished off #InclusiveSchoolsWeek strong with a highlight video of the work happening in one of the pilot schools. Watch our video and stay tuned as our Journey has just begun!!

As part of Nebraska’s “Journey to Inclusion,” we are excited to work with our partners at Hanover Research to develop meaningful and easy-to-use resources to inform stakeholders about how to support inclusive efforts. This published infographic “Best Practices in Special Education NDE” highlights instructional strategies that not only support students with special needs but all students in the classroom.  These high-impact instructional strategies are also aligned with selections found in the Targeted Improvement Plan (TIP) that schools submit to portray continuous improvement efforts within Special Education programs.

In December 2023, this infographic was reviewed by Nebraska’s Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) and we are excited to share it widely.  Stayed tuned for the next publication, “Benchmarking Co-Teaching Policies & Practices.”

Recent SPED Updates

2024-25 Split Funding Letter

2024-25 Split Funding Letter

Clarification on guidance for 92 NAC 51 – 009.04 and IDEA 60-Day Timeline for School-Age Children

45 school day vs 60-day guidance (PDF)

Guidance on Special Education Certification – April 2019

Guidance on Special Education Certification – Reimbursable under IDEA (PDF)

Upcoming SPED Events

Decorative Purposes Only - Save the Date for 2025 NeMTSS Summit - All information in the photo is shared in writing below the photo

2025 Nebraska MTSS Summit – Hybrid
“Road Trip – Navigating Literacy on the MTSS Highway”

October 9-10, 2025
Younes Conference Center North
Kearney, Nebraska

Participants may attend in person at the Younes Conference Center North or participate virtually.

REGISTRATION & MORE INFORMATION – COMING SOON!

Eligibility Guidelines

Eligibility Guidelines by Topic

Policies & Procedures Guidance Documents

Policies & Procedures by Topic

Technical Assistance/Guidance Documents

Developing Local Policies & Procedures Required for Implementation of Special Education Part B Regulations in Nebraska’s Public Schools

Eligibility Guidelines

Equity Guidance – Nebraska – CEIS

Equity Guidance – Nebraska

Extended School Year (ESY) Guidance Document – Aug 2018

External District Monitoring Protocol

GMS Flex Funding Application Preschool and School-Age District Procedures Guidance Document

Guidance on Serving Homeschool, Exempt Students with Disabilities

IEP Facilitation Guide 2020

IEP Special Education Services

Improving Learning for Children with Disabilities (ILCD) Guidance Document – Navigating the T.I.P.

Kindergarten Age Eligible (5-year-old) Preschool IEP and LRE Guidance (Dec. 2021)

Language Assessment Guidance Document

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Guidance Document – Aug 2018

Medicaid in Public Schools (MIPS) Guidance Document

NETA B Preschool Guidance Document

Nebraska Accommodations Guidelines – How to Select, Administer, and Evaluate Accommodations for Instruction of Students with Disabilities (2022)

Nebraska’s Journey to Inclusion – Equity for All Learners Inclusion at Every-Level Guidance Document

Non-Public Services to Children with Disabilities Enrolled by Their Parents in Non-Public Schools

Paraeducator Guidance Document

Part C Levels of Determination Technical Assistance Guide

Part C Procedural Safeguards – Aug 2018

Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities Guide – January 2020

Policies and Procedures Guidance Documents by Topic

Prior Written Notice Guidance Document

Promoting Supports for Students with Disabilities Specific to Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Shortened Days Guidance Document

State Complaint Guideline

Supporting the Behavioral Needs of Children with Disabilities Guidance Document

Results Matter TA Document

Teaching Students with Specific Learning Disabilities Math

Tips for Working with a Licensed Sign Language Interpreter
 *Webinar with captioning to support the TA Doc on Guidelines for Educational Interpreters.

Transition Planning Guidance Document – May 2022

Questions and Answers on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Evaluations, and Reevaluations – OSEP 2010

Department Information

Public Reporting and Determination Guides

Public Reporting
Part B Levels of Determination 2017


Early Childhood Inter-Agency Coordinating Council

ECICC Biennial Report to the Governor


Guidance from the U.S. Dept. of Education – Office for Civil Rights

Colleague Letter – Resource Guide on Students with ADHD
Know Your Rights – Students with ADHD


Maintenance of Effort

Federal Proposed Regulations on Significant Disproportionality
Federal Study and State Analysis of Disproportionality

Updated February 7, 2025 1:44pm