DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT   

FY 2026 October 1 Data Collection Application will open October 2, 2025

Phase I of the October 1 Data Collection (ODC) application will open in 2 weeks. This phase includes the submission of your Public Education Agency (PEA), Special Education (SPED) student count and personnel Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) data. 

The ODC verification count is a crucial process consequential for federal reporting, determining federal allocations, and providing information for the state to make educational determinations over time.

All PEAs are required to verify the aggregate count of students receiving SPED services over October 1, including zero counts. This is an internal count using your student information systems and student rosters; AzEDS reports should not be used to gather Phase I Verification Count.

This data is due Wednesday, November 5, 2025. More information and training is available on the ESS October 1 Data Collection website.

Please refer to the Important Dates Website on the ODC timeline for a complete outline of deadline requirements for this data collection.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

Urges respect for individual liberties

PHOENIX – Today marks the 238th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution and it is a day worth celebrating, says state schools chief Tom Horne.

Horne issued a video to Arizona schools earlier this week commemorating the historic document that establishes the rights and freedoms that were promised in the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Here is the text of that statement:

“One of the interesting things about the Constitution is that it demonstrates that the founders valued individual liberty above other democratic values, such as majority rule. We know this because if the majority passes a bill that unconstitutionally impinges on individual freedom, the United States Supreme Court, established by the Constitution, has the power to invalidate that law. This is true even though a majority of citizens might favor that law. Individual liberty takes precedence, even overruling the majority.

One of the rights established by the Constitution is freedom of speech. This right was so valued by our founders that it is extended by the language of the constitution to all people, not just all citizens. 

A disturbing recent trend has been surveys of college students where majorities think it’s all right to shut down somebody saying something you disagree with. This is very much contrary to our American ideals. He who wants respect must show respect. The concept of our Constitution is that if someone says something you disagree with, you have the right to express your own view and hopefully the truth will emerge from everyone having the right to contribute to the dialogue.

Respectfully responding to a contrary point of view is good mental exercise. Without that exercise people are not at their best in developing their own views. 

I remember when someone did a display at the Phoenix Art Museum where you had to walk over an American flag to look at a toilet. I was outraged. But as a result of this, there was more enthusiastic display of patriotism than I have ever seen before or since in the City of Phoenix. It was the outrageous display that caused people to show their patriotism.

There have been dictators or oppressive systems in other countries that have punished and even killed their own people for daring to express a contrary point of view or living their lives as they wish. By contrast, the United States has relied on its Constitutional foundation to defend freedom and protect the cause of liberty both in this country and throughout the world.

We are always just one generation away from losing our rights and liberties if some generation fails to respect our Constitution. Therefore, we are relying on you. Study the Declaration of independence, the constitution, and the other great documents of our history and defend the rights and freedoms of our Constitution. Don’t shout anyone down. Exercise your mind and respectfully make your case.”

Incident at Carl Hayden High School shows need

PHOENIX – A knife fight between two female students at Carl Hayden High School Monday shows the Phoenix Union district board made a major mistake by denying the school’s request for an armed officer to be paid for by the Arizona Department of Education earlier this year.

Horne said, “The safety of students, teachers and staff members at schools is not negotiable and a knife fight on the Carl Hayden campus Monday shows the dangers are increasing. This needs to stop immediately. The Phoenix Union governing board needs to reverse a terrible decision they made earlier this year when they rejected requests from the leadership of both Carl Hayden and Betty Fairfax high schools for armed officers on campus.”

He explained, “Yesterday, Phoenix Police reported that two female Carl Hayden students were in a knife fight that resulted in injuries. This proves the need for armed officers and demonstrates the utter lack of concern by the members of the Phoenix Union government board who rejected the request for officers that had been endorsed by the two schools and district administration. It was an outrageous dereliction of responsibility, and the board needs to reconsider this matter immediately.”

Pilot program includes mentoring, professional development

PHOENIX – A new pilot program focused on apprenticeships for aspiring educators is targeted to reduce the teacher shortage crisis in Arizona, according to Superintendent Tom Horne.

The Arizona Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program (AZ TRAP), developed in collaboration with the Arizona Office of Apprenticeship, offers a path to certification for little to no cost, more experience in classroom teaching, and a way of earning a wage while participating in the program.

Horne stated, “There is a crisis in Arizona, and we must take strong action. We are losing more teachers than are coming into the profession. If we don’t do something major, we could end up with zero teachers. There remains a need to focus on better teacher pay and for administrators to support teachers in student discipline, but apprenticeship programs are another tool to be used.”

He added, “Apprenticeships can help address this crisis is by encouraging the development of more educators. The AZTRAP apprenticeship program will increase accessibility to earning an Arizona teacher certification. The Arizona Department of Education is a service-oriented agency, and this effort is part of my commitment to training quality educators for Arizona classrooms.”

The program has secured $1.5 million in funding from the Maricopa County Workforce Development Board to support apprentices working in Maricopa County for the 2025-2026 school year.

Key Features include:

• A pilot program with Mesa Public Schools, Phoenix Union High School District, The Arizona Teacher Residency Program, and PLC Charter Schools. They will act as the employers of teacher apprentices and partners with the Arizona Department of Education.
   
• A pipeline of educators allowing future educators to gain thousands of hours of on-the-job learning with a mentor teacher, allowing them to develop invaluable classroom skills for longer periods of time.
   
• Grow Your Own Model: Allows school sites to select prospective employees and integrate them into their school culture and staff. Integrating educators earlier and with more intent will increase educator retention, keeping more quality teachers in the classroom.

The School District Employee Report (SDER) Online Application is now open to accepting employee data. This application is accessible through ADE Connect. You must submit your SDER data by the end of the day on October 15, 2025.

The updated SDER manual can be viewed here: /sites/default/files/2021/10/SDER%20Manual%20Revised%2010.7.21.pdf 

The FY2026 SDER Memo that includes instructions for submitting data has been published in the memo section of the School Finance webpage: https://schoolfinancereports.azed.gov/Memos

Note: Charter schools do not submit SDER data.

PHOENIX – State schools Superintendent Tom Horne issued the following statement following the death of Charlie Kirk at a political event in Utah today.

Horne stated, “This is a tragic and despicable act of cowardice that has no place in American society. My deepest condolences go out to his wife and family who have suffered an unimaginable loss.

One of our cherished rights as Americans is the Constitutional protection of free speech and Charlie Kirk was practicing that right when he was cut down by gunfire. That is an attack on all our liberties, and we cannot tolerate this terrible scourge of violence.”

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT 

FY 2026 October 1 Data Collection Phase I Training

Annually, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is required to report special education data to the federal government. The October 1 Data Collection (ODC) is part of that process and is required by all Public Education Agencies (PEAs). ODC has three phases:  

1. Child Count Verification and Personnel  
2. Child Count Reconciliation 
3. Child Count Non-Reconciliation  

During Phase I, PEAs must provide ADE with the number of students participating in their special education program on October 1, 2025. PEAs will also report Personnel data and Parentally Placed students (if applicable). 

ESS Data Management invites you to attend our Phase I training session.

Virtual Training:                                                                  

Date:               Thursday, October 9, 2025            

Time:               10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Registration:     Click here to register 

Please email ESS Data Management with any questions. 

We look forward to assisting you in meeting your data reporting requirements. 

We invite all educators to our upcoming free virtual professional learning series on Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

 This series is an excellent opportunity to deepen your understanding of UDL principles and how they can be applied to create more inclusive, accessible learning environments for all students.

 These virtual sessions will focus on providing practical strategies that can be implemented across diverse classroom settings, supporting the success of all learners. We encourage your schools to take advantage of these no-cost virtual learning sessions to deepen knowledge and understanding and enhance instructional practices to ensure every student succeeds.

 The registration links are in the attached PDF flyer, or you can use the links below.
You may find the flyer here.

The Beginner’s Guide to UDL: Simple Strategies, Powerful Impact (NEW!)

Choose one:
September 11, 4:00–5:30 p.m.
October 30, 4:00–5:30 p.m.

Leading for Inclusion: UDL Essentials for School Administrators
September 24, 4:00–5:00 p.m.

AT and UDL: A Conversation About Technology, Tools, and Teaching
September 29, 4:00–5:00 p.m.

UDL & EdTech: Smarter Tools for Inclusive Classrooms (NEW!)
Choose one:
October 1, 4:00–5:00 p.m.
November 13, 4:00–5:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Academic Achievement & Inclusive Practices.  

BUDG-25 reports for all school districts have been posted to the School Finance website.  FY 2025 Statewide Recalculation (SRC) BUDG-25 reports have been calculated using the FY 2025 Statewide Recalculation (SRC) BSA-55 information.

• District BUDG-25, BUDG-75, and BSA-55 reports are available to download from this School Finance website.

Please note: Any previously submitted student data 15-915 requests for FY 2024 and FY 2025 that have been processed so far in FY 2026 have their data reflected in this BUDG-25 Report.

Please contact the Budget Team ([email protected]) if you have any questions.

We are pleased to announce the release of the free Self-Regulation Curriculum (K–12) for Arizona educators!

ADE/ESS has partnered with Drs. Gaumer Erickson and Noonan to provide free access to a curriculum to build students’ self-regulation skills in Grades K–12.

1. Download the curriculum by completing a short form. You’ll be redirected to downloadable PDFs.
2. Sign up to attend a 45-minute introductory webinar, which will provide an overview of the free curriculum and resources.

The College & Career Competency Framework supports educators and families in developing resilient learners who collaborate to expand skills, express their wants and needs respectfully, and apply strategies to self-regulate and persevere.

View our self-regulation infographic, which includes the definition of self-regulation and student impacts resulting from instruction.

Do you have questions or want to learn more about professional learning for your school/district? If so, email Dr. Pattie Noonan.