Earlier this month, ESS sent out information regarding free ESS/PSM in-person regional training opportunity being held throughout the school year. ESS has decided to add an additional training!

An additional in-person Guide Steps and Prior Written Notice (PWN) training has been scheduled in the Prescott area on April 1, 2026. Guide Steps will run from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Prior Written Notice (PWN) from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. To register, please email Veronica Reza [email protected]

Please note that all sessions for the same topic contain identical content. To maximize training availability and accommodate as many participants as possible, we encourage participants to register for only one session per topic. Additional information about topics, dates, times, and locations are included below.

Guide Steps
This training focuses on using the Guide Steps technical assistance document to review a mock student file for compliance with IDEA and state requirements. Participants will practice navigating the Guide Steps, identifying compliance requirements, and reviewing supporting documentation. The training will also highlight Prior Written Notices (PWNs) as a common area of statewide noncompliance and provide an opportunity to discuss frequent documentation issues and applicable requirements.

Prior Written Notice (PWN)
This training provides an in-depth review of Prior Written Notice (PWN) requirements and ADE resources. Participants will examine common PWN compliance issues identified through monitoring activities, explore factors that contribute to noncompliance, and engage in interactive exercises using real-world scenarios to strengthen their understanding of PWN requirements and best practices.

Registration levels will be monitored, and adjustments to the session schedule may be made. If this occurs, registrants will be notified timely. 

If you have any further questions, please contact your PEA-assigned PSM specialist.

ESS/PSM is excited to offer free, in-person regional training opportunities throughout the school year. Participants may register for the training topic(s) that best meet their needs.

There are two training topics being offered this year. To provide flexible attendance options, each topic will be offered multiple times throughout the year. Please note that all sessions for the same topic contain identical content. To maximize training availability and accommodate as many participants as possible, we encourage participants to register for only one session per topic. Additional information about topics, dates, times, and locations are included below.

Guide Steps

This training focuses on using the Guide Steps technical assistance document to review a mock student file for compliance with IDEA and state requirements. Participants will practice navigating the Guide Steps, identifying compliance requirements, and reviewing supporting documentation. The training will also highlight Prior Written Notices (PWNs) as a common area of statewide noncompliance and provide an opportunity to discuss frequent documentation issues and applicable requirements.

Prior Written Notice (PWN)

This training provides an in-depth review of Prior Written Notice (PWN) requirements and ADE resources. Participants will examine common PWN compliance issues identified through monitoring activities, explore factors that contribute to noncompliance, and engage in interactive exercises using real-world scenarios to strengthen their understanding of PWN requirements and best practices.

To register, please email Veronica Reza [email protected] directly with your preferred date and time. If you have any further questions, please contact your PEA-assigned PSM specialist.

ESS/Program Support and Monitoring (PSM) is proud to announce the release of the SY 2026–2027 Programmatic Monitoring Manual. This manual is intended to assist public education agencies (PEAs) in participating in and preparing for programmatic monitoring activities. The forms associated with programmatic monitoring activities can be found on the PSM website under Differentiated Monitoring Activities. 

Please contact your PEA’s assigned specialist with questions.  

ESS/Program Support & Monitoring is pleased to announce the release of the SY 2026–2027 Programmatic Monitoring Guide Steps. Attached is the release memo that indicates some of the recent updates.

The Guide Steps is a technical assistance document created to aid public education agencies (PEAs) in understanding the requirements specific to programmatic monitoring. Legal compliance may be more extensive as it relates to a state complaint or due process. Any examples should not be taken directly and added to a student’s IEP or evaluation because each student is unique and has his/her own set of circumstances that must be addressed through his/her individual evaluation and IEP.

We hope that these Guide Steps assist PEAs in reviewing student documentation for compliance purposes and in reviewing systemic, programmatic needs within the PEA. Questions can be directed to your PEA’s Program Support & Monitoring Specialist.

ADE/ESS is pleased to announce the release of the revised AZ‑TAS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Graduation of Students with Disabilities in Arizona’s Schools. 

This updated document provides guidance on: 

• Key components of FAPE for transition‑aged students 

• Arizona’s graduation requirements for all students 

• Circumstances that conclude a student’s right to FAPE 

Revisions incorporate the Arizona State Board of Education’s October 2024 updates to IEP and secondary transition requirements, information from the Graduation Joint Guidance Memo (ADE, 12/1/25), technical changes, and clarifications requested by the field. We sincerely appreciate the thoughtful questions and feedback from special education stakeholders, which informed several updates and strengthened this resource. 

To further support schools in navigating graduation requirements, ADE/ESS also offers guidance and training on effective postsecondary transition planning, with additional resources currently in development. For more information, please visit the ADE/ESS Secondary Transition website. 

The revised FAQ is linked above and available on the ADE/ESS AZ‑TAS Documents webpage. 

Please disseminate this information to your teams as appropriate. For questions or additional information, contact the ESS Inbox. 

ESS/PSM is excited to announce that in-person regional training opportunities will be available this school year. These trainings are free for participants and will cover two key topics: completing a mock student file review and accessing resources for crafting a compliant Prior Written Notice.

Dates, times, and locations are listed below. To register, please email Veronica Reza directly. Please register by December 19, 2025.

If you have any further questions, please contact your PEA-assigned PSM specialist.

ESS/PSM is excited to announce that in-person regional training opportunities will be available this school year. These trainings are free for participants and will cover two key topics: completing a mock student file review and accessing resources for crafting a compliant Prior Written Notice.

Dates, times, and locations are listed below. To register, please email Veronica Reza directly. Additional training dates may be added based on field interest and internal capacity.

If you have any further questions, please contact your PEA-assigned PSM specialist.

ESS/Program Support and Monitoring (PSM) is proud to announce the release of the SY 2025–2026 Programmatic Monitoring Manual. This manual is intended to assist public education agencies (PEAs) in participating in and preparing for programmatic monitoring activities. The forms associated with programmatic monitoring activities can be found on the PSM website under Differentiated Monitoring Activities.

Please contact your PEA’s assigned specialist with questions. 

Please see the following public participation information for an ADE/ESS proposal to change the Significant Disproportionality calculation cell size, available on the ADE/ESS webpage.

Public Participation for Significant Disproportionality Calculation Cell Size Change Proposal

As part of the public participation process set forth in the IDEA Part B regulations at 34 CFR § 300.165 and in section 441(b)(7) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) ((20 U.S.C. 1232d(b)(7)), prior to the adoption of amendments to policies and procedures required to comply with Part B of the Act, the State must ensure that there are public postings, hearings, and 30-day public comment period. The public posting period will be between June 17, 2025, and August 16, 2025. The public comment period will be between June 17, 2025, and July 27, 2025. Following the conclusion of the public participation period, ADE/ESS will evaluate the feedback received.

Notice of Public Hearings

The ADE will hold two public hearings, one geared primarily toward education professionals and a second for parents and family members of children with disabilities. Any individual or organization may register and attend either public hearing opportunity. Select an option below to join the event via Zoom.

Professionals

Thursday, June 19, 2025: Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The public hearing will take place during the June Professional Check-In. Register in advance for the professionals' meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Parents and Family Members

Thursday, July 17, 2025: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Register in advance for the parents' and family members' meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Notice of Public Comment Period

The public comment period for the proposed Significant Disproportionality Calculation Cell Size Change will be open between June 17, 2025, and July 27, 2025. Any individual or organization may submit written comments. The State will review and consider all comments after the public participation period.

Special education stakeholders may submit comments in writing using the following methods:

• Submit electronically via the ADE/ESS Public Comment webpage
• Submit electronically to Exceptional Student Services via email
• Submit handwritten comments directly to Exceptional Student Services via the USPS to Arizona Department of Education, 1535 West Jefferson St. Bin #24, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

Please see the following public participation information for proposed ADE/ESS Special Education Dispute Resolution Policies and Procedures, available on the main ADE/ESS webpage.

Public Participation for Proposed Special Education Dispute Resolution Policies and Procedures

As part of the public participation process set forth in the IDEA Part B regulations at 34 CFR § 300.165 and in section 441(b)(7) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) ((20 U.S.C. 1232d(b)(7)), prior to the adoption of amendments to policies and procedures required to comply with Part B of the Act, the State must ensure that there are public postings, hearings, and 30-day public comment period. The public posting period will be between June 17, 2025, and August 16, 2025. The public comment period will be between June 17, 2025, and July 27, 2025. Following the conclusion of the public participation period, ADE/ESS will evaluate the feedback received.

Notice of Public Hearings

The ADE will hold two public hearings, one geared primarily toward education professionals and a second for parents and family members of children with disabilities. Any individual or organization may register and attend either public hearing opportunity. Select an option below to join the event via Zoom.

Professionals

Thursday, June 19, 2025: Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The public hearing will take place during the June Professional Check-In. Register in advance for the professionals' meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Parents and Family Members

Thursday, July 17, 2025: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Register in advance for the parents' and family members' meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Notice of Public Comment Period

The public comment period for the proposed Special Education Dispute Resolution Policies and Procedures will be open between June 17, 2025, and July 27, 2025. Any individual or organization may submit written comments. The State will review and consider all comments after the public participation period.

Special education stakeholders may submit comments in writing using the following methods:

• Submit electronically via the ADE/ESS Public Comment webpage
• Submit electronically to Exceptional Student Services via email
• Submit handwritten comments directly to Exceptional Student Services via the USPS to Arizona Department of Education, 1535 West Jefferson St. Bin #24, Phoenix, AZ 85007.