News and Updates

What is ListServ (SELs/SELs2)?

February 2000, the Office of Special Education created the Special Education Listserv (SELS).  It has been and continues to be a limited e-mail group (with listserv being a misnomer since it really isn’t a listserv) available to only one contact person per school district/responsible public agency. It is used by the Office to disseminate important special education information concerning funding, compliance, data collection, professional development, etc. 

The Office has created a second e-mail group called SELs2.  This e-mail group is open to anyone wanting to subscribe (principals, teachers, parents, etc.). It will allow subscribers to receive the EXACT same messages as subscribers to SELs. By creating this second e-mail group, all constituents interested in special education will have the opportunity to receive the Office’s e-mail messages, not just one contact per school district/responsible public agency. It also allows DESE to maintain the ability to make sure that every district has at least one contact person per district receiving these messages. Messages are from DESE only and may only be posted by the manager (Lina Browner, Office of Special Education). Members may not post messages to either SELs or SELs2.

How Do I Subscribe?

Those interested in subscribing to SELs2 can do so by going to the following the links below. 

Questions or Problems Subscribing to SELs and/or needing to change SELs information, contact Lina Browner, Executive Assistant, Office of Special Education at (573) 751-5739 or via email at Lina.Browner@dese.mo.gov

SELs

SELs2

SELs Archives

Free Cochlear Implant Consultation for Districts in Spring 2025

Source: Kristin Funk, Assistant Director, Effective Practices

Intended Audience: Special Education Directors, Special Education Teachers, and Speech Language Pathologists

Date: February 18, 2025

Free cochlear implant educational consultation services are available to any Missouri school district serving students with cochlear implants (PK-12). Services are individualized and often include information on device functioning, speech and auditory development, educational development, modes of communication, etc. Service delivery is primarily through Zoom, phone conferences, and email correspondence.  

During the spring 2025 semester, consultation services are offered each Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. We have some flexibility on days/times and will work with and support districts to meet the needs of students with cochlear implants. Missouri State University (MSU) embraces a unified approach to serving students with cochlear implants. When applicable, school districts are encouraged to include faculty, administrators, staff, as well as the student and parents of the student in the collaborative, consultation services. 

DESE contracts with MSU, School of Special Education, Educational Leadership, and Professional Studies (SELPS) to provide this free consultation service to help school districts as they meet the needs of students who have cochlear implants.

For information about the services, please contact Dr. Karen Engler at KarenEngler@Missouristate.edu.

For other assistance, please contact Kristin Funk at Kristin.funk@dese.mo.gov or call 573-751-7661.

FY 25 Payment for High Need Fund (HNF)

Source: Special Education Finance

Intended Audience: Special Education Directors, Financial Administrators

Date: February 4, 2025

The FY 25 High Need Fund (HNF) payment for services provided during the 2023-24 school year will be received by districts in the month of February. Districts/LEAs may receive both federal and state HNF revenue in their payment. Payment amounts for both state and federal funds are posted on the Special Education Finance webpage at https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/hnf-fy25-payment . dur to a substantial increase in HNF costs incurred by districts in the 2023-24 school year, there was nearly a $15 million shortfall in HNF funding. As a result, districts will only be receiving a prorated percentage of reimbursement at this time. If additional funds are appropriated at a later date, districts may receive a second payment for reimbursement of HNF costs. 

State revenue will be listed under revenue code 5381 on the payment transmittal. The state revenue received may be used at the district's/LEA's discretion. There are no DESE assigned project codes for coding expenditures paid with state HNF funds.

Most districts/LEAs will also receive federal HNF revenue. Federal revenue will be listed under revenue code 5437 on the payment transmittal. Districts/LEAs that receive a portion of the HNF payment from federal funds must code the funds to a current (2024-25) special education expenditure or complete a journal entry correction in order to tie these federal funds to an expenditure by the date the funds are received for cash management compliance. Project code 43703 and source code 4 must be used when coding special education expenditures paid with federal HNF funds. Further information on coding federal HNF funds can be found in the Special Education Expenditure Coding document and Cash Management section of the Special Education Fiscal Monitoring Guide located at https://dese.mo.gov/financial-admin-services/special-education-finance/fiscal-monitoring. 

Please contact the Special Education Finance Section if you have questions at spedfunding@dese.mo.gov. 

FY 25 Payment for Public Placement Fund (PPF)

Source: Special Education Finance

Intended Audience: Special Education Directors, Financial Administrators, Superintendents

Date: February 4, 2025

Based on the applications received compared to the available appropriation, the Public Placement Fund (PPF) is being paid at approximately 51.14 percent for services provided during the 2023-24 school year. Districts with approved applications will receive full payment of the prorated payment in the February school payment. The PPF payment is listed on the payment transmittal as "Pub. Placement" revenue code 5369. Districts may view the FY 25 PPF payment amounts at https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/fy25-ppf-payment. 

Applications for the 2024-25 school year will be available in September 2025 and are due October 31, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Special Education Finance at 573-522-2523 or spedfunding@dese.mo.gov. 

Special Education Teacher Retention Tool Kit for Principals

Source: The Office of Special Education Programs -- U. S. Department of Education

Intended Audience: Principals, Special Education Directors, District Administrators

Date: January 16, 2025

Recruitment and retention of special education staff is one of the most challenging issues faced by public schools across Missouri. The Office of Special Education Programs at the U. S. Department of Education just introduced a technical assistance resource for building level administrators. This tool kit is designed to help principals recognize six of the most identified retention issues and provides a series of short-, mid-, and long-term strategies that can be implemented by leaders to address those challenges.

You can learn more information about this release on the Principal Navigator: Special Education Retention web page. For questions, please email seep@dese.mo.gov.