Total Special Education System ManualAccountability Programs :

The Total Special Education Systems (TSES) Manual is designed to assist districts and local education agencies in achieving compliance with special education mandates and funding requirements. 

The 2006 TSES Manual includes (1) descriptions of policies that local education agencies are required to develop; (2) suggested – but not exhaustive – supplemental items that may be used to demonstrate compliance; and (3) relevant laws and regulations.  It does not include generic policies; local education agencies must develop their own policies and procedures.

The TSES Manual’s drafters have attempted to thoroughly gather all relevant laws and regulations.  However, local education agencies are responsible for ensuring that they are aware of and in compliance with all current state and federal laws.

PLEASE NOTE:  Since federal regulations and state laws and rules continue to undergo change in 2006, the TSES Manual includes references to regulations and laws that may, at times, conflict.  Whenever that occurs, if federal law is more restrictive than state law, it supersedes state law, but if state laws are more proscriptive, then they supersede federal law.

As of April 2006, the federal IDEIA regulations included in this TSES Manual remain proposed regulations that have not been finalized.