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The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by 

fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES

May 26, 2017

Honorable Richard Whitley

Director

Nevada Department of Health and Human Services

4126 Technology Way

Carson City, Nevada 89706

Dear Director Whitley:

The purpose of this correspondence is to provide a summary of the monito ring and support 

activities conducted by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for the Nevada 

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) during the April 27-28, 2017 on-site visit.

In 2016, OSEP began providing differentiated monitoring and support (DMS) to States as part of

its Results Driven Accountability (RDA) framework. Under RDA, OSEP made a shift from 

monitoring based solely on compliance to monitoring and support focused on both compliance 

and improving results for infants and toddlers with disabilities. OSEP differentiates its approach 

for each State based on the State’s unique strengths, progress, challenges, and needs.

With the DMS process, OSEP conducts an organizational assessment (OA) of risk factors to

identify States’ progress in meeting performance standards and compliance with the legal

requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Education Department 

General Administrative Regulations and the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 

Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. OSEP uses the information from the

OA and an Engagement Decision Tree to make designations of universal, targeted, or intensive

monitoring and support (DMS) for the fiscal year. The 2016 DMS areas were: 1) results; 

2) compliance; 3) State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP); 4) child find; and 5) fiscal.

On October 31, 2016, OSEP sent Edythe King, Developmental Specialist, the DMS notice for 

Nevada. That notice provided a designation of universal, targeted, or intensive engagement in 

each of five areas: results, compliance, SSIP, child find, and fiscal. The information in the

Notice was based on FFY 2016 data in the five areas, along with information about the factors 

contributing to elevated needs, the support your State has accessed, your State’s capacity to 

improve results and compliance, and additional contextual information. We have attached a 

copy of the DMS notice for your convenience. 

We also attached a summary of the engagement provided by OSEP during the monitoring and 

support activity for the area designated as intensive. In addition, OSEP has had an informal

discussion with your staff about issues related to Part C finance and the requirement for a single

line of responsibility that is not included in the attached summary. 
Page 2 – Richard Whitely, Director

We appreciate your efforts to improve results for infants and toddlers with disabilities. If you

have any questions, please contact Priscilla Irvine, your OSEP State Lead, at (202) 245-6913.

Sincerely,

/s/

Ruth E. Ryder

Acting Director

Office of Special Education Programs

cc: Brenda Bledsoe

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