Bid Request - Special Education Audit 2022

Overview

<p>The Bridgeport Board of Education (BBOE) in Connecticut is seeking proposals from qualified firms that have successfully conducted audits/studies of the continuum of special education programs and services in public school districts, including out of district placements being provided by public school districts. The purpose of the study is to determine the most effective and efficient programming for special education in the Bridgeport School District, while providing a quality program for students.</p> <p>The mission of the Bridgeport Public Schools and it supporting community is to graduate all students “college ready” and prepared to succeed in life. The Bridgeport School District is the second largest school system in Connecticut, servicing approximately 21,000 students. It also ranks lowest among the Connecticut school districts on the economic scale. There are 38 schools consisting of 29 elementary, 7 (seven) high schools, 1 (one) alternative school and the inter-district Vocational Aquaculture School. The school system employs a staff of more than 2000, inclusive of Facilities, Security and Food Services personnel.</p> <p>The Special Education Department has a commitment to educating all children within the community, and to that end services approximately 3100 special education students, which includes approximately 300 attending out of district placements and 170 attending 6 Charter School(s). At the elementary, middle, and high school levels specialized instruction is provided through a continuum of services – from push in, to pull out, to self-contained, to therapeutic day programming, services are tailored to the individual needs of the student as outlined in his or her individualized educational plan. Various forms of collaboration are also emphasized at all levels and by all providers including related services personnel. Paraprofessionals throughout the district assist in classrooms as well as provide individual support for specific students.</p> <p><strong>Purpose</strong><br>The Bridgeport School District is seeking proposals from knowledgeable organizations, experienced in special education audits. The goal is to comprehensively analyze the special education program.</p> <p><strong>SCOPE OF SERVICES</strong></p> <p><strong>A. Objectives</strong><br>The special education audit/study for the Bridgeport Schools should focus on the organizational structures of special education, beginning with the organization of central office special education and related services staff, procedures/protocols for delivery of special education services, alignment of fiscal resources to special education needs and parent/agency involvement in the educational program.</p> <p><strong>The following questions further clarify the areas that must be considered in the audit/study:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Are the processes used by special education and related services effective, efficient and adhered to with fidelity?</li> <li>Are students being identified appropriately, referrals for evaluation to determine eligibility made timely, and progress monitored?</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-size:1em">Is the PPT Process being adhered to:</span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:1em"></span><strong>1.</strong>  Does the Individualized Educational Plan address the individual needs of the student and detail special education and related services?</p> <ul> <li>Are services detailed in the student IEP delivered in accordance with IEP requirements?</li> <li>Are Annual Reviews scheduled and held in compliance within the appropriate timeline?</li> <li>Does the PPT team obtain parental consent to conduct evaluations?</li> <li>Are reevaluations to determine eligibility or continued eligibility for special education and related services scheduled and held in compliance within the appropriate timeline?</li> <li>Is the PPT team comprised of an Administrator, Regular Education Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Parent and Pupil Personnel?</li> <li>Do PPT team members maintain, update and/or revise student information in the special education data system?</li> <li>To what extent are special education students receiving educational benefit from the programs and continuum of services provided by the Bridgeport Public Schools, and in particular the newly created in-house programs for students (i.e., AIM and SOAR)?</li> <li>Are allocated resources utilized effectively and efficiently to meet the needs of the special education population? This should include organization of special education and pupil personnel services, the Staffing Allocation Model, staff assignments and scheduling/supervision of special education services at the school level.</li> <li>To what extent is the communication with stakeholders both within and outside the system effective in meeting the needs of students requiring special education?</li> </ul> <p><strong>Services/Deliverables</strong></p> <p><strong>1. The auditing organization will be responsible for providing the following products or deliverables:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Timeline of activities and major events in the audit process.</li> <li>Responsibilities to be assumed by the Bridgeport Public Schools and the search firm during each phase of the process.</li> <li>Describe the audit/study approach and the methodology to be utilized in order to respond to the areas identified and questions posed.</li> <li>Specific quantitative and qualitative data to be collected and analyzed.</li> <li>Description of other special education audits conducted in the past five years for similar public school districts, regarded as ending successfully.</li> <li>Provide 2 or 3 references from other studies you have recently conducted and successfully completed, and if possible with emphasis on districts similar to Bridgeport.</li> <li>Provide the average length of time from initiation of study, timeline for phases of the study through to successful completion.</li> <li>Describe how you intend to work with the school staff and others, as appropriate during this study.</li> <li>Describe the format and content of the final report to be generated, encompassing summary charts of data analysis completed, findings and recommendations.</li> <li>Provide an estimated maximum cost to conduct the audit/study and include costs for two similar studies done recently</li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:1em"><strong>2. The auditing organization will also be responsible for documenting adequate resources to staff the search process; specifically:</strong></span></p> <ul> <li>Identification of the persons who will take primary responsibility for the audit. Provide a resume for each person. We would expect that the persons designated as primarily responsible for the audit will make the Board presentation upon audit completion.</li> </ul> <p>Click Here for <a href="https://www.bidsync.com/bidsync-app-web/vendor/links/BidDetail.xhtml?bi… BID REQUEST</a></p> <p><strong>Implementation Timelines</strong><br>The special education audit firm shall provide sufficient staffing to accomplish the work within the timeframe described in this RFP. The firm shall be available as needed to provide the services described herein.</p> <p><strong>QUESTIONS</strong></p> <p>Q & A Deadline is March 17, 2022 by 11:00AM MST. Must log in to Bid Sync to submit questions.</p> <p><strong>THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE, BASED ON AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BBOE AND THE SELECTED SEARCH FIRM.</strong></p> <ul> <li>Contract Start Date - Projected - TBD</li> <li>Term of Contract – The anticipated term of any resultant contract is projected to be three (3) months, ending June 30, 2022. However, the date of final execution of the contract shall be the governing factor as to the date of commencement of work.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Submission of Proposals</strong></p> <p><strong></strong><strong>1. </strong> The original and copy along with two electronic copies of the proposal must be enclosed in a sealed envelope with the name and address of the proposer. The lower left corner of the envelope should be plainly marked “BEX054223 - SPECIAL EDUCATION AUDIT PROPOSAL - BBOE”.</p> <p><strong>2.</strong> <strong> Proposals MUST be delivered no later than March 24, 2022 at 2:000 p.m</strong> to:</p> <p>                                             Department of Public Purchases<br>                                             Margaret E. Morton Government Center<br>                                             999 Broad Street<br>                                             Bridgeport, CT 06604</p> <p><em>Proposals sent to any other office or by any other means will not be accepted.</em></p> <p><em></em><strong>3. </strong> All proposals must be received by 2:00 p.m. on March 24, 2022 at the address above. Postmarks or facsimiles (FAX) transmission will not be                   accepted in lieu of this requirement.</p> <p>It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure the proposal is submitted by the time and date and to the address specified above. The Department will reject any proposal not meeting this RFP requirement timeline.</p>