Data Pipeline Snapshots: Special Education December Count

Overview

The Special Education December Count collection is an annual count of students receiving Part B Special Education services as of December 1st. The information is used to determine state level ECEA funding that helps to provide specialized student services. Special Education December Staff Data is also required to obtain data on special education staff employed by administrative units on December 1st of each year so that appropriate licensure and endorsement of staff may be verified; and reports generated for the State Legislature, Federal government, local Administrative Units, and the public.

Deadlines

Snapshot Opens: Monday, November 3, 2026

Final Snapshot Due: Friday, February 20, 2026

2025-2026 Special Education December Count Timeline (PDF) 

File Layout and Definitions

2024-2025 Special Education December Count Snapshot File Layout (PDF) (updated 09/27/2024)

Business Rules

• 2024-2025 Special Education December Count Staff Snapshot Business Rules (XLSX) (updated 10/18/2024)
• 2024-2025 Special Education December Count Student Snapshot Business Rules (XLSX) (updated 11/05/2024)

Trainings

• December Count Office Hours - Staff Approval Matrix/SAM (PPTX)  (updated 12/05/2024)
  • ​December Count Office Hours Staff Approval Matrix Recording
• 2024-2025 December Count Office Hours Webinar (PPTX) (posted 11/20/2024)
• 2024-2025 Special Education December Training Webinar Slides (PPTX)  (updated 11/14/2024)
  • ​2024-2025 Special Education December Count Snapshot Training Recording
• Tuition Contract Reporting in the Participation File Training Video (MP4) (posted 10/20/2021)
• Overview of Caseload Match- December Count Snapshot Training Video (MP4) (posted 10/20/2021) 
• Educational Orphans and Students in Detention Centers Video (MP4) (posted 04/15/2021)
• Pupils Attendance Information Code Video (MP4) (posted 11/23/2020)
• Educational Environment Codes Training Video (MP4) (posted 12/07/2020)
• Parentally Placed in Private School Training Video (MP4) (updated 11/11/2024)

Staff Approval Matrix (SAM) and Licensing References

• Special Education Licensing Requirements by Job Classification and Fully Qualified Status (XLSX)
  • This report is a reference for SAM Cognos Report: 1.5 Non-Qualified Personnel Status Reporting
• Special Education Endorsement Requirements per Student Disability (XLSX)
• Staff Approval Matrix (SAM: 1.5) Report Fact Sheet (PDF)

Additional Links

• December Count Exception Instructions and Template (XLSX) (updated 11/04/2022)
• Detention Center Students-December Count Guidance (PDF)
• Educational Environments Guidance Document 
• Educational Orphans Guidance (PDF)
• Pupils Attendance Information Codes (PDF) (updated 03/05/2025)
• Pupils Attendance Information Codes Flow Chart (PDF) (09/11/2018)
• Special Education December Count-Student Data Content Guide (PDF) (updated 11/01/2023)
• Special Education December Count-Staff Data Content Guide (PDF)  (updated 11/01/2023)
• Online Learning and Education Environments (PDF) (posted 07/20/2020)

Reports

• Sped December Student Snapshot Cognos Reports Specs Guide (PDF) (posted 07/24/2023)
• Sped December Staff Snapshot Cognos Reports Specs Guide (PDF) (posted 10/20/2023)
• Special Education December Count Flag Explanations (DOCX) (updated 01/24/2024)

Contact

Lindsey Heitman at SpedDecCount@cde.state.co.us