Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) Idaho Membership Application

Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) Idaho Membership Application – 2024 - 2027 Term

The following information is to assist applicants in understanding the purpose and activities involving Idaho’s Special Education Advisory Panel.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that every state establish and maintain an advisory panel for the purpose of advising the State Department of Education special education staff regarding the education of eligible children with disabilities.

In Idaho, advisory panel members are appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (IDAPA 08.02.03.109.08). Advisory panel members serve for a three year term.

Panel membership is comprised of individuals who are representative of Idaho’s population and involved in, or concerned with, the education of children with disabilities. Federal law requires that the majority of panel members be individuals with disabilities, or parents of children (ages 1-26) with disabilities.

Panel members serve without compensation, but the state may reimburse them for reasonable and necessary expenses in order to attend meetings and perform panel duties.

Meetings are scheduled for 1-2 days, approximately three times a year. Panel members may also serve on the executive committee necessitating additional meeting time.

The responsibilities of Idaho’s Special Education Advisory Panel, as defined in the IDEA Amendments of 2004, are as follows:

advise the State Department of Education (SDE) of unmet needs in the education of children with disabilities;
comment publicly on rules or regulations proposed by the state regarding the education of children with disabilities;
provide advice to SDE staff in developing evaluations and reporting data to the Secretary of Education;
advise the SDE in developing corrective action plans to address findings identified in federal monitoring reports;
advise the SDE in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities;

All states are required to meet federal regulations regarding state advisory panels. States may also have their own regulations that establish panel responsibilities beyond those outlined under federal regulations.

Idaho’s panel members have identified that shared goals and function are critical to the direction, decisions, and actions of the panel. Applicants are encouraged to give serious thought to their role on the panel and how they can contribute to its unity and strength of purpose. Commitment and active involvement are needed to assist the panel in its efforts to advise the State Department of Education in serving children with disabilities.

The Advisory Panel looks forward to receiving your application.