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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

DEC 8, 2017

Santina Thibedeau

Administrator, Bureau of Special Education

State Director of Special Education

New Hampshire Department of Education 

101 Pleasant Street 

Concord, NH 03301

Dear Director Thibedeau, 

The purpose of this letter is to briefly summarize the Office of Special Education Programs’ 

(OSEP) on-site visit to New Hampshire Department of Education (NHDOE) on September 28, 

2017.

As you know, 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 children with disabilities. OSEP differentiates its approach 

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

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

identify States’ progress in meeting performance standards and complying with the requirements 

of the Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its implementing 

regulations, 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 that a State will receive for the fiscal 

year. For 2016-2017, OSEP identified five areas for DMS: 1) results; 2) compliance; 3) State 

Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP); 4) correctional education; and 5) fiscal.

On October 20, 2016, OSEP issued NHDOE its DMS notice. That notice provided a designation 

of universal, targeted, or intensive engagement for each of the five areas OSEP identified for 

DMS. The information in the notice was based on Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2014 data in the 

corresponding five areas, along with information about the factors contributing to elevated need

for monitoring and support. It also included the technical assistance the State has accessed, the 

State’s capacity to improve results and compliance, and additional contextual information. We 

have attached a copy of the DMS notice for your convenience.
Page 2 – Santina Thibedeau

As part of its DMS activities, OSEP conducted a technical assistance visit with NHDOE. The 

State was designated as “targeted” in the area of compliance because it had reported a 54.6% 

compliance rate for Secondary Transition (Indicator 13) in its FFY 2014 State Performance 

Plan/Annual Performance Report. OSEP and NHDOE staff engaged in discussion related to the 

area of Secondary Transition to better understand steps the State is taking to improve compliance 

in this area. 

With regard to the SSIP, NHDOE’s DMS designation was “universal.” However, at the State’s 

request OSEP staff devoted a part of the on-site visit to a discussion of NHDOE’s progress and 

future plans in implementing its SSIP. OSEP appreciates the State’s thoughtful preparation and 

willingness to have an open dialogue about New Hampshire’s successes and challenges. We 

look forward to continuing to partner with NHDOE as we enter the next fiscal year.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the provision of quality educational services to

students with disabilities. 

Sincerely, 

/s/

Ruth E. Ryder

Acting Director

Office of Special Education of Programs