The Foreign Service Journal, June 2023

68 JUNE 2023 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT In CFP, we now follow a clearly defined SNEA application review time frame. For example, families are to apply for SNEA funding for the current 2022-2023 school year by Dec. 31, 2023. GCLO: There are now significantly more requirements for SNEA to accept an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or an Individual Learning Plan (ILP). Who should families reach out to in CFP to make sure their child’s IEP will meet the new requirements ? MED/CFP Team: If a family is not actively corresponding with a member of the CFP team, I would encourage them to email MEDCFP@state.gov . We are happy to provide guidance. The revised 3 FAM 3284 details the required elements of the IEP/504 Plan or the IEP/ILP equivalent. The goal of this revision is to detail the specific, required information parents should include in the learning plan/equivalent. GCLO: What does the Special Needs Education Allowance Committee do? MED/CFP Team: The deputy under secretary for management created the Special Needs Education Allowance Committee, or the SNEA Committee, in November 2018 in response to the OIG audit. This committee works at a policy level, reviewing existing SNEA procedures and reporting to the under secretary for man- agement, as needed. The SNEA Commit- tee is not directly involved in the CFP team review or in processing SNEA requests. GCLO: What changes were made to the SNEA Appeal Process and why? MED/CFP Team: A formalized SNEA appeal process was developed and implemented in 2020 as a result of the OIG SNEA audit and recommendations. Families now can initiate a SNEA appeal when educational services required are not approved as part of the SNEA review. We want access to this program to be as clear as possible. — MED/CFP