The State Performance Plan Technical Assistance Project (SPP–TAP) is seeking applicants who are experts in a variety of educational areas to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) to address significant disproportionality.  Desired applicants will be able to support LEA teams comprised of general education and special education members by advising, guiding, facilitating conversations, and finding appropriate resources for LEAs. They will ensure a cultural lens by engaging in courageous conversations around race, ethnicity, and culture to address performance and compliance issues relating to disproportionality and significant disproportionality. Disproportionality specific to this Request for Application (RFA) is defined as: disproportionate representation of racial and ethnic groups in special education in one of four areas.

• special education in general
• special education within a specific disability category
• disciplinary action
• more restrictive educational environments

Successful applicants are those who meet the eligibility requirements and are the best qualified based on their response to the RFA. The successful applicants will be members of a cadre of approved Technical Assistance Facilitators able to work with LEAs in the area of disproportionality and significant disproportionality. To mirror California’s diversity, individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Technical Assistance Facilitators may be contracted by LEAs to deliver these services to the LEAs.

All required documents (application cover sheet form, resume or vita, and narrative statement form) MUST be received by SPP-TAP no later than 5:00 PM on September 16, 2024. Download the application, which includes the cover sheet form and narrative statement form.

Funded by the California Department of Education (CDE) through a contract to the Napa County Office of Education (NCOE), the overall purpose of the project is to provide a system of technical assistance for local educational agencies (LEAs) working to address performance and compliance problems relating to disproportionality and significant disproportionality.

The SPP-TAP provides technical assistance consisting of training, coaching, information dissemination, and referrals of best practices. Services include: sustaining a cadre of expert technical assistance facilitators; providing for individualized technical support to LEAs identified as significantly disproportionate; designing and facilitating a community of practice; and developing and providing regional workshops.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) requires states and local education agencies (LEAs) to take steps to address disproportionality. Disproportionality refers to the “overrepresentation” of a particular racial or ethnic group in one of four areas:

1. special education in general;
2. special education within a specific disability category;
3. disciplinary action; or
4. more restrictive environments.

Annually, LEAs with disproportionate student outcomes for three sequential years for the same racial or ethnic group in the same element or indicator are identified as Significantly Disproportionate by the CDE.

Under IDEA, LEAs with Significant Disproportionality are required to identify and address contributing factors to disproportionality as part of their comprehensive coordinated early intervening services (CCEIS). These systems change efforts require collaborative work between general education and special education.

The resources available on this website may be used by any LEA wishing to improve equitable student outcomes in a proactive and preventative manner.