Quarter 4 - Winter 2007
Issue 7, Volume I
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Section 504 Compliance Collection just released!

We are proud to announce the release of our latest collection of legally-required parent notices and forms, the TransACT® Section 504 Compliance Collection. This collection was created in response to the overwhelming interest of our nationwide customer base.

We put considerable thought into the development of this new collection. You will discover instant value in the forms and notices designed to document compliant procedures, as well as in the new ActPoint RoadMaps which identify high-risk areas and guide staff to consistently apply required 504 procedures. We’ve also included crucial references (OCR, USDOE and USDOJ) that complement the knowledge transfer process so that all staff are fully informed and can make prudent and timely decisions.

The Section 504 Compliance Collection gives your district immediate capacity to provide up-to-date parent notices, both in English and Spanish, and document compliance in the following areas:

• Required non-discrimination notices
• Initial student screening
  
• Accurately determining student eligibility
  
• Evaluation and re-evaluation procedures
  
• Thorough accommodation plans
  
• Parent permissions
  

We've made it very easy to add the Section 504 Compliance Collection to your subscription. Just fill out this form and we'll contact you right away.

Dr. Forest Hertlein, compliance expert, on Section 504 requirements

A Section 504 complaint alleging discrimination based on a student’s disability can absorb a significant amount of staff time, energy, and resources. Are you prepared?

What is Section 504?

Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act was the first national civil rights law to view the exclusion and segregation of persons with disabilities as discrimination. The purpose of Section 504 in regards to education is to provide meaningful access to the public schools for students with disabilities. Some of that role is shared with the IDEA, under which students with the most severe disabilities are served. What remains in Section 504 is an anti-discrimination statute which requires that the educational needs of disabled students are met as adequately as the needs of nondisabled students. Interpreting Section 504's coverage too narrowly has resulted in many districts being found out of compliance for failure to identify students protected solely by Section 504.

Section 504 and IDEA

Section 504 is intended to "level the playing field" by eliminating barriers that exclude persons with disabilities - whereas IDEA is remedial - often requiring the provision of programs and services in addition to those available to persons without disabilities. Unlike IDEA - which focuses on the unique educational needs of the student - Section 504 looks at comparing the education of students with and without disabilities.

Common compliance failures

Districts most often fail at meeting certain aspects of Section 504 compliance requirements. Some of the problems areas are as follows:

• failing to evaluate only those students who fall within IDEA categories
  
• no separate written evaluation procedures
  
• obtaining evaluation information from the parent
  
• documentation that evaluation information has been considered
  
• considering and providing reasonable accommodations that are documented in an education plan
  
• providing parents with Section 504 procedural safeguards at appropriate times
  
• obtaining parental consent prior to initial Section 504 evaluation and initial placement of their child.
  
• submission to OCR of the Revised Assurance of Compliance – Civil Rights Certificate (revised to incorporate the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act)
  

Are you entirely confident that you have met each of these requirements?

Be Prepared

There are tools and guidance available to enable you to implement and document processes and procedures that comply with Section 504 requirements. The TransACT Section 504 Compliance Collection is one such critical tool.

Click here to learn more about our Section 504 Compliance Collection, or fill out this form to request that someone contact you about adding this collection to your subscription. During our launch period, the entire collection is available for a $950 annual license fee that includes notices and forms provided in English and Spanish.

What's New at TransACT

Around the nation: Have you spotted a TransACT team member lately?

SETESOL 2007 Regional Conference - Louisville, Kentucky: TransACT Executive Director of Customer Operations Monica Munar presented: Breaking Language Barriers and Building Bridges: Communicate with Parents by using TransACT in partnership with Maureen Keithley, Kentucky Department of Education Title III - LEP/Immigrant Consultant. November, 2007.

AESA Annual Conference - Tampa, Florida: TransACT President/CEO Rick Passovoy led a workshop with Dick Moody, Director of Business Services for AESA showcasing ActPoint Roadmaps, TransACT's exciting new product offering. November, 2007.

Upcoming conferences: We will be attending the National Title I Directors conference in Nashville, TN January 29th - February 2nd. Please stop by booth #428 and say hello. We'd love to hear how your subscriptions are working for you.

Dynamic collections: How we keep you current

We are working hard to keep your parent notices current and updated with the latest education reform mandates. New documents, revisions and translations are posted in your collection every month. These collection revisions are completed at no cost to you. Our goal is to ensure that our parent notification collections accurately reflect requirements set forth by NCLB, IDEA 2004, OCR and by the U.S. Department of Education. Subscribers can be assured that TransACT closely monitors the changing landscape of federal programs and the impact on parents’ right to know.

Collection changes are regularly posted in the breaking news section of our website. Check in often to see what's new for you. To learn more about the full line of TransACT parent notification collections, click here to view available free online demonstrations. Questions about document updates should be sent to TransACT Customer Care by e-mail (support@transact.com) or phone (425-977-2100).

Implementation Hints

Corrie's Clues: This month's tip from our Customer Care guru

Having trouble locating a form?

The TransACT site offers a solution to help you quickly search the site with the powerful search tool located in the red toolbar along the top of the screen.

1. Choose the document collection you wish to search from the drop-down menu that appears to the left of the search button. (Only the collections within your district’s subscription can be searched.)
2. Click ‘Search’
3. Enter a search term in the search field (ex: Highly Qualified Staff)
4. Click ‘Submit’
5. A list of results will display documents containing the search term(s)
6. Narrow the results by entering additional search terms
7. Check the ‘Search Within Results’ box
8. Click ‘Submit’

For more tips on using the site efficiently, click the Quick Tips button located along the right side of your account homepage screen, viewable after you log-in.

Make access easy for everyone: Add a pass-through link to your district site

Did you know that one-click access is available for your TransACT subscription? With a pass-through link, there's no need to type in your log-in information. Access is instant and easy, direct from your district intranet.

Pass-through links are easy to set-up. Just contact TransACT Customer Care at support@transact.com or (425-977-2100). We will help guide the set-up and have your entire district equipped with instant access in no time.

Become a compliance expert! Training opportunities are available online.

A catalog of both online and onsite training opportunities is available on our web site. Users can now sign up for basic user webinars for their specific products or request on-site training from a TransACT^® Certified Trainer.

To register for training or for more information visit http://www.transact.com/public/training/.

Professional development opportunity: Become a TransACT^® Certified Trainer

The TransACT Academy is a two-day workshop held at the TransACT corporate offices just outside of Seattle, WA. Over the course of the training, participants will be equipped with the tools to fully implement and train others on the TransACT system in their state, region or district, leaving the Academy as a TransACT^® Certified Trainer. Learn more by visiting http://www.transact.com/public/training/academy.htm.

Success Story

How the Kentucky Department of Education gets things done

The Kentucky Department of Education has teamed with TransACT to provide consistent parent notifications across the state with no room for compliance failure. The statewide subscription option provides a solution for all included districts at a fraction of the cost of individual plans.

Click here to read more about Kentucky's great success.

Contact Us

View this eNewsletter online at: http://www.transact.com/public/news/newsletter/eNews2007Q4.htm

Website: http://www.transact.com

Email Addresses:

Info: info@transact.com		Unsubscribe: unsubscribe@transact.com
Sales: sales@transact.com		Subscribe: info@transact.com
Customer Care: support@transact.com