[SE-Dir] OSL&P: Services for Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired

[ALLRAN Laura]

TO:       All District and ESD Special Education Directors

The message below is being sent to you on behalf of:

Nancy Latini, PhD
Assistant Superintendent
Student Learning & Partnerships
______________________________________________
July 27, 2009

RE:      Services for Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired

This is the second message from Superintendent Castillo regarding student services for students transitioning from OSB.  We are excited about our partnership with NWRESD in this effort.

Nancy Latini, PhD
Assistant Superintendent
Oregon Department of Education
Student Learning & Partnerships
503-947-5702
nancy.latini at state.or.us
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
July 27, 2009
TO:   All School Superintendents, Principals, and School District Staff
FR:  Superintendent Susan Castillo
RE:  Naming of Northwest Regional ESD as Lead Regional Program to Coordinate Services to Blind and Visually Impaired Students per House Bill 2834
Governor Kulongoski recently signed House Bill 2834 into law, which closes the Oregon School for the Blind (OSB) by September 1, 2009.  The bill contained several provisions that assign specific duties to state agencies such as the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), and the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS).   These provisions are intended to provide a smooth transition for students as they return to their home school districts.

House Bill 2834 also established the Blind and Visually Impaired Student Fund to assist all Oregon students who are blind or visually impaired and ensure they receive appropriate educational services in their local communities.  The Legislature included an appropriation of $2,985,218.  Specifically the fund can be used for (excerpt of HB 2834):

SECTION 7(a) Assisting students who are blind or visually impaired in receiving appropriate resources and services, including educational services, in the communities where the students reside;
(b) Supplementing funds available to regional programs authorized under ORS 343.236
(1)(a)(A) and (C) to ensure access to the expanded core curriculum for students who are blind or visually impaired;
(c) Coordinating professional development of persons who provide educational services to students who are blind or visually impaired;
(d) Providing technical assistance for the purpose of providing educational services to students who are blind or visually impaired; and
(e) Coordinating activities for the benefit of students who are blind or visually impaired.

The bill also requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to designate one lead Regional Program to provide statewide coordination of services supported by the Student Fund and to ensure a smooth transition for students who will be returning to local school districts.

SECTION 11. (b) The superintendent shall designate one of the regional programs that provides special education to children who are blind or visually impaired to provide statewide coordination and technical assistance related to:
(A) The provision of services described in section 7 (2) of this 2009 Act; and
(B) The transition of students from the Oregon School for the Blind to the communities and school districts where the students will be located after the closure of the Oregon School for the Blind...

I am writing today to inform you that I have designated the Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD) to help carry out these provisions of House Bill 2834, effective immediately.

I am very pleased that NWRESD has accepted this responsibility and look forward to a partnership that will benefit the students from the Oregon School for the Blind, students who are blind and visually impaired across Oregon, and their families.  The staff at NWRESD has demonstrated a continuing commitment to ensuring high quality programs for students who are blind and visually impaired.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Eric Richards at ODE (503-947-5786 or eric.richards at state.or.us<mailto:eric.richards at state.or.us>) or Joan Steiner at NWRESD
(503-614-1275 or jsteiner at nwresd.k12.or.us<mailto:jsteiner at nwresd.k12.or.us>).

If you have any difficulty viewing this document, please contact Laura Allran at laura.allran at state.or.us<mailto:heidi.schulze at state.or.us> or 503-947-5674.

Messages to and from this e-mail address may be made available to the public under Oregon law.
===========End of Message============



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