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Special Education Directors' Corner
Rulemaking Hearings
Stakeholder feedback is being sought prior to two rulemaking hearings for the Administration of the Exceptional Children's Educational Act - 1 CCR 301-8 that will take place at the April State Board of Education meeting. The most current redline version of the Rules can be found here.
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New or Reorganization Application & Checklist
*Applications for New or Reorganized AUs are due Thursday, September 1, 2023, for districts seeking to begin operations for the 2024/2025 school year.
Quick Links
- Technical Assistance Documents
- Upcoming and Archived Trainings
- (Special Education under "Topics" on the left)
- View CDE Publications
COVID Quick Links
Important Dates Coming Up
Year-at-a-Glance for SY 2023-2024 (PDF)
September 2023
1st Parent Survey data collection window is open in the DMS from September 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024
7th SPED EOY initial error-free due date when a complete and error-free snapshot is due.
8th SPED EOY initial report review week begins before duplicates next week. Data changes can be made during this week to ensure accurate data before the duplicate process.
15th SPED EOY complete error-free snapshot is due prior to the resolving duplicates process next week.
18th SPED EOY resolving duplicates week.
22nd SPED EOY duplicates resolved deadline; and beginning of the final report review week.
29th 2022-23 Federal Application Budget Window Closes.
29th SPED EOY final error-free snapshot due date. Final reports must be reviewed, signed, and submitted to CDE.
30th Post-School Outcomes interviews completed, and data submitted.
October 2023
31st 2022-23 End of Year (EOY) Expenditure Window Closes
31st 2022-23 Performance Reports due
Educational Surrogate Parent (ESP)
- Special Education and Educational Surrogate Parents - Technical Assistance and Training Manual 2018 (PDF)
- Educational Surrogate Parent (ESP) Guidance Memo, June 2018 (PDF)
- Educational Surrogate Parents - Impact of HB22 1038 - Right to Counsel for Youth (March 2023)
- Assignment of an ESP Form 2023-2024 (PDF)
- Click here if you are interested in serving as an ESP.
Address Educational Surrogate Parent (ESP) questions to:
Katherine Rains
Rains_k@cde.state.co.us
Submit form via FAX to:
303-866-6767
Mail form to:
Colorado Department of Education
Exceptional Student Services Unit, ESP Assignments
1560 Broadway, Suite 1100
Denver CO 80202
New Special Education Director
AU Special Education Director of Record and Fiscal Contact Information
ESSU must have current contact information for all state-level Special Education Directors and Special Education Fiscal Contacts. Our office communicates important updates and information through our listserv, please be sure that we have accurate, updated information. Communications from this listserv will come from CDE_SPED.
ESSU Newsletter
The ESSU e-newsletter is our office's primary form of communication with the field. It is published once a month and contains information from the Office of Gifted and Talented, Office of Facility Schools, and Office of Special Education.
What's New
HB22-1260 Access to Medically Necessary Services for Students
HB22-1260 Access to Medically Necessary Services for Students requires each Administrative Unit (AU) to adopt a policy that addresses how a student who has a prescription from a qualified health-care provider for medically necessary treatment receives such treatment in the school setting as required by applicable federal and state laws. It also requires each AU to compile and submit aggregate data to CDE annually.
- Summary of HB22-1260, link to training power point, and data collection process
- Link to the full HB22-1260 document
New Process for Verification of UPK Provider
In recognition of changes in staffing availability over the summer months, and a need for a simplified process to ensure preschool students with IEPs are enrolled in UPK programs in alignment with their IEPs, CDE and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood have developed the following updated agreements. The purpose of this process is to ensure alignment between the UPK placement of preschoolers and the student’s IEP. This method may be used starting now, until further notice, and while longer-term solutions are being developed.
For Students with Active IEPs, Districts, and AUs may:
- For AUs that are not registered UPK providers, consider entering a short-term DSA with CDEC. CDEC will work to have a Data Sharing Agreement template available for AUs to sign as soon as possible.
- AU’s send a list to CDEC of all preschool children who are not currently matched in alignment with the student’s IEP or students whose families have not yet applied for services through the BridgeCare system through a secured data sharing platform of their choice. Be sure to include: the first and last name of the student, the student's date of birth, the full name of the school where the child should be placed, and the program type (part-time, half-day, full-day).
- CDEC will directly place the student in the correct program in alignment with the child’s IEP outside of the deferred acceptance algorithm (DAA).
- When the parent-requested placement is different than the IEP team placement, the AU will communicate directly with the family about the need to place the child in accordance with the IEP team’s decision.
- AUs should send an updated list to CDEC on an ongoing basis.
For students identified for special education services and placed during summer months:
- IEP teams identify children for eligibility and, when appropriate, place the child.
- Support families to apply for services through BridgeCare, in alignment with the student’s IEP.
- AUs should include these newly identified students on the list that need direct placement by CDEC. (See number 2 above).
- CDEC will directly place the student in the program in alignment with the child’s IEP outside of the deferred acceptance algorithm (DAA).
For consultation and support of direct placement of students with IEPs (outside the UPK BridgeCare deferred acceptance algorithm), please contact:
Angie Delin, UPK Specialist
720-355-4902, Email Angela Delin
Or
Dawn Odean, Director Universal Preschool
Colorado Department of Early Childhood
Cell Phone 720.483.5505 and dawn.odean@state.co.us
General questions about preschool special education or this process, reach out to Heidi White at white_h@cde.state.co.us and 303-501-0837.
Special Education and UPK
In the latter half of the 22-23 school year, CDE released Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about special education and universal preschool and CDE Standards for Placement of Preschoolers with IEPS in Educational Programs. The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is responsible for administering special education, while the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) is responsible for administering UPK. Answers were developed by CDE with consultation from CDEC. New information and resources, including additional questions and answers will be added on this CDE webpage. Please direct questions to the Early Childhood Special Education team, or Heidi White, at white_h@cde.state.co.us.
Meetings and Conferences
Upcoming – ESSU Meetings
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Registration is now open for the 2023 Fall ESSU Director’s Meeting. The meeting will be held Thursday, September 14th, and Friday, September 15th, and will be held at the Denver West Marriott, 1717 Denver West Marriott Blvd., in Golden, Colorado. The meeting theme will be Strategy Spotlight: Specially Designed Instruction and Differentiated Programming.
Each administrative unit may register any additional appropriate personnel at this time, but please note that space is limited. Once full registration is reached, registration will close. Only those personnel who receive a registration verification email will be permitted to attend.
Registration will close on August 23rd. The conference hotel group rate block of rooms is full. Registrants may still book a room through the non-conference rate with the Marriott, however additional lodging options are listed below and may yield a lower nightly rate.
The conference will feature a smartphone app that will hold the entire agenda, presentation materials, and evaluation opportunities that will be provided after registration. Attendees will be able to pre-select desired sessions before the event using the app. For attendees who may require accommodation, please carefully note this on your registration.
CDE will no longer reimburse travel expenses for this event. Reimbursements must be submitted to individual districts.
Other nearby hotels:
- Hampton Inn Denver-West/Golden; 17150 W. Colfax Ave., Golden,
- Courtyard Denver Golden/Red Rocks, 14700 W. Sixth Ave. Frontage Road, Golden.
For questions or more information, email essu-meetings@cde.state.co.us.
- Residence Inn Denver Golden/Red Rocks, 14600 W. Sixth Ave. Frontage Road, Golden.
- Springhill Suites Denver West/Golden, 1315 Colorado Mills Parkway, Lakewood.
New Directors Orientation (NDO)
2022 Orientation for New (or Near-New) Directors of Special Education
The 2022 Orientation for New (or Near-New) Directors of Special Education will be held on August 29, 2022. View the New Special Education Directors webpage for more information about Orientation for New (or Near-New) Directors of Special Education.
Information and materials from past NDO meetings
Access the handouts from the 2021 New Directors Orientation (NDO) at the 2021 New Directors' Orientation Resources.
Memos to AU and Special Education Directors
- Adoption of Extended Part C Option for Colorado (PDF) - April 2022
- Early Intervention Evaluation Responsibilities Transfer to CDHS/Early Intervention (PDF)
- K - 12 Resources for Afghan Evacuees (PDF)
- Potential Impact of the Family First Prevention Services Act on Special Education Students (PDF)
- Questions and Answers On Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Evaluations, and Reevaluations (PDF)
- Letter to State Directors of Special Education (PDF)
- Non-Regulatory Guidance: Ensuring Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care U.S. (PDF)
- Memo Notice of Change in Reporting Requirements and CDE Guidance for Measuring Indicator 13 Compliance (PDF)
- CMAS ELA Accommodation Policy Updated to Align with Colorado Academic Standards Expectations
- OSERS FAQ: The Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under the IDEA (PDF)
- OCR FAQ: The Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PDF)
Resources
There are many ways that children and families can be displaced. There are floods, fires, and other types of natural disasters that can destroy homes or make them uninhabitable for periods of time. Families can also experience hardships that result in major home life changes.
Having trouble with this webpage?
If you have problems with broken links or accessing the content on this page, please contact the Exceptional Student Services Unit at ESSU@cde.state.co.us. Please copy the URL link for this page into the email when referencing the problem you are experiencing.
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