DPA IDEA Newsletter June/July 2026

Greetings from the BIE-DPA Special Education Program!

As another successful school year, 2025–2026, ends and the summer season begins, we are pleased to announce that the 2026 Interactive Special Education Data Academy (ISEDA) will be held virtually on June 16–17, 2026.

We invite you to join us for engaging presentations designed to strengthen expectations for timely special education services, enhance problem-solving practices, maximize the use of available resources, and promote collaboration by sharing ideas and building professional connections.

We look forward to learning and connecting with you at ISEDA 2026. See you there!

Register now!

The BIE IDEA SY 2026–2027 Part B School Application is available, schools can access it in the “Uploads” section of the Plan4Learning (P4L) portal. Navigate to Uploads, then to IDEA Part B Application and Resources, and selecting the “LEA Template” to download the SY 26–27 Application and Resources.

All schools are required to complete and submit the Part B School Application by the close of business day on June 30, 2026. Please ensure the final, completed application is uploaded directly to Plan4Learning using the “Add File” option in the Uploads section, titled “IDEA Part B Application and Resources.”

The resources below are provided to support schools in accurately completing all required components of the application:

• SY 2026–2027 Part B School Application
• Guidance Document
• Recorded Application Training
• BIE Allowable Costs (2020) Reference Guide.

For targeted technical assistance, schools are encouraged to contact their assigned BIE DPA IDEA Specialist. The BIE Division of Performance and Accountability (DPA) appreciates each school’s commitment to ensuring timely submission and compliance in support of high‑quality special education services.

The BIE's Special Education Handbook was signed by Director Dearman and issued on January 7, 2026. It is included within the Indian Affairs Manual as Special Education Handbook 33 IAM 3-H. The Handbook can also be found on the BIE's website. An accompanying Dear School Leader Letter is also available.

Handbook Topics:

• Parent consent, involvement, and procedural safeguards
• Evaluations and reevaluations
• IEP development and Least Restrictive Environment
• Dispute resolution
• Child Find and FAPE
• Early intervening services
• Discipline
• Transition services
• Confidentiality and Personally Identifiable Information

Key Implementation Information:

1. During the 2025–2026 school year, schools should develop or revise their local procedures.
2. DPA IDEA will monitor implementation beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.

Support:

The DPA-IDEA has created short video modules for each of these topics to walk you through the updates and to support implementation. Reach out to your assigned DPA IDEA Education Specialist for technical assistance.

The Bureau of Indian Education’s Advisory Board for Exceptional Children will convene both in person and online on July 21-22, 2026, at the National Indian Training Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This two-day meeting fulfills IDEA mandates and will feature updates from:

• BIE Central Office
• Head Start program overview
• Panel discussion on the Family and Child Education Program
• Key reports on special education topics

Representatives from the Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families, will present an overview of their program, highlighting key challenges, notable achievements, and offering valuable recommendations. Additionally, a panel discussion will delve into the Family and Child Education Program, providing an in-depth look at each program’s goals, successes, challenges, and overall influence on Native students and their families. The BIE’s Division of Performance and Accountability will share important updates regarding dispute resolution data, the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report for FFY2022, and the BIE Special Education Policy & Procedures Handbook.

Beyond these presentations, the Advisory Board will hold work sessions to finalize meeting logistics, discuss actionable next steps, recommend upcoming projects, finalize key decisions, address any outstanding tasks, and distribute working folders to board members for future meetings.

To encourage community involvement, public comment sessions will be held both days, with opportunities for verbal and written input. For those unable to attend online, written feedback is also welcome by email, fax, mail, or hand delivery to Jennifer Davis, DFO, at the Bureau of Indian Education. Email or call for further information: jennifer.davis@bie.edu or (202) 860-7845.

• IEP Manual (Updated November 2025)
• Procedural Safeguards Notice (Updated December 2025)
• Special Education Handbook (Updated January 2026)

Extended School Year (ESY) services are special education and related services provided beyond a school’s normal academic year for a student with a disability when the IEP team determines, on an individual basis, that these services are necessary for the student to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). ESY is not the same as summer school and is not a separate program; instead, it is designed to help eligible students prevent substantial regression, maintain critical skills, and sustain progress on emerging skills tied to their current IEP goals. ESY decisions must be made annually by the full IEP team using relevant data (such as progress monitoring and regression/recoupment information), and services must be provided at no cost to families, without limiting eligibility by disability category or capping the type, amount, or duration of services.

For more information about ESY, please see the BIE's updated Extended School Year Guidance document.

Did you know the Procedural Safeguards Notice (PSN) must be provided at least once every year and at other specific times under IDEA including:

• Upon initial referral or parent request for evaluation,
• Upon receipt of the first State complaint or due process complaint in a school year
• Upon a disciplinary change of placement, and
• Upon parent request.

Procedural safeguards are not just a compliance requirement. They are foundational to trust, transparency, and meaningful family engagement. As educators, we play an important role in making those rights meaningful. Beyond providing the document, we are responsible for ensuring parents understand their rights and have opportunities to ask questions.

Access our updated Procedural Safeguards Notice to ensure your community receives accurate, clear information about parent/guardian rights under IDEA.

Disagreements can arise as schools and families work together to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), dispute resolution options are designed to resolve concerns early, collaboratively, and with the student’s best interests at the center.

Educators play a critical role in preventing disputes by fostering clear communication, documenting decision-making, and meaningfully engaging families as partners in the IEP process. When concerns do arise, informal problem-solving and early resolution strategies, such as mediation, an often address issues before they escalate into formal complaints or due process hearings.

IDEA’s dispute resolution processes are not about assigning blame; they are about ensuring compliance, restoring trust, and supporting appropriate services and outcomes for students. By approaching concerns with openness, and a commitment to collaboration, educators help strengthen relationships with families and uphold the promise of IDEA for all students served.

The end of the school year is a time to wrap up work‑based learning documentation and coordinate with families and adult service agencies. Before students headed into summer, teams should have also verified that any secondary transition summer programs and services were fully arranged, staffed, and ready to launch so students experience a smooth transition into the break and the year ahead. Have a great summer!

The Parent Survey for SY 2025–2026 is due by June 30, 2026.

All related information and materials have been posted in Plan4Learning, click the Uploads tab and it is posted in the indicator 8 area.

• Paper copy of the parent survey
• Online
• QR code

Completed paper surveys may be scanned and emailed directly to Melanie Star, if you have any questions, please contact Melanie Star at melanie.star@bie.edu.

As IDEA Annual Performance Report (APR) data collection continues, this month’s Data Digest highlights how these data connect to the broader BIE accountability system. APR indicators offer critical insight into outcomes for students with disabilities and can help teams identify trends, monitor progress, and inform improvement efforts. Consider how your current data collection and review processes can support more timely, actionable decision-making.

The BIE Division of Performance and Accountability’s IDEA team has created a series of short videos and quick reference guides to assist school-based and regional special education staff. These concise resources aim to make IDEA easier to understand and implement, helping educators feel more confident in their work.