Chinle Elementary receives National Blue Ribbon Achievement award for most improved progress in reading and math. Chinle's outstanding efforts from tests in reading, writing, and math were up 40% in reading, writing and comprehension and 32% up in math--one of the highest gains in the state.
 

We are thrilled to announce that professional registration is now open for Arizona’s 2026 IDEA Conference: Stronger Systems, Better Outcomes—for Every Student. This year’s conference will take place August 18–20, 2026, with preconference sessions on August 17, at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort. 

The registration fee for professionals is $425 per person. Payment may be made by MasterCard, Visa, or Discover, check, or purchase order. With procurement deadlines for PEAs approaching, we encourage you to register promptly—spots are expected to fill quickly. To ensure equal access, we may limit the number of attendees per district or charter organization to maximize participation.  

Registration process 

1. Submit a seat request for review by the IDEA Conference Committee. 

2. If your request is approved for payment, you will receive instructions to complete registration by submitting payment through the Arizona Professional Learning and Development System (APLD). Please note: payments submitted without an approved seat request will be canceled. 

3. If notified by email, submit the Arizona’s 2026 IDEA Conference Supplemental Form to complete registration. 

New this year: Each seat request must include an active ADE Professional Learning & Development (APLD) Learner ID. This Learner ID is required to confirm the APLD account that will be associated with payment for each seat request. If staff has not yet been identified, or if the identified staff member does not yet have an APLD account, you may still submit a seat request to secure a spot. The attendee’s name and APLD Learner ID can be collected through the supplemental form (referenced in step 3), until July 27, 2026. 

For more information on registration—including how to submit a seat request, lodging options, and FAQs—please visit the IDEA Conference Registration webpage. 

Need help with completing registration? Please email the IDEA Conference inbox or join the IDEA Conference Planning Committee during an upcoming office hour. Please register in advance for a virtual office hour time slot. 

Information regarding the Special Education Leadership Preconference application and registration process will be released in the coming days. Anyone interested in participating in the preconference—either as a single day experience or in addition to the full conference—should apply using the preconference application only. 

We look forward to learning with you at this year’s conference. For the latest announcements please visit the IDEA Conference website. 

Program would benefit all public schools

PHOENIX – Governor Hobbs’ veto of legislation that would give parents access to a new federal school tax credit that is usable in public and private schools is drawing disappointment from state schools chief Tom Horne.

Horne said, “I am disappointed that this legislation was vetoed. I wish the governor had followed the example of her Democrat colleague, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who approved his state for participation in this very favorable tax credit. It benefits the state at federal expense and helps all schools, whether public or private.”

The federal program is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit that taxpayers can donate up to $1,700 annually to Scholarship Granting Organizations that give money to cover school expenses.

The ADE/ESS Special Education Program Approval system for the 2026–2027 school year will open on April 13, 2026. ESS plans to have all Private Special Education Schools, Emotional Disabilities Public (ED-P) programs, and Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) that wish to operate for fiscal year 2027 reviewed and approved by June 15, 2026.  See memo here.

If you have questions, please email the Private Day and ED-P inbox or the ESS Vouchers inbox.

Provides more money to districts, charter and other school settings

PHOENIX – State school superintendent Tom Horne is urging Governor Hobbs to sign legislation currently on her desk that would add more money to the classroom for students in public district, charter and other school settings. The bill would include Arizona in a new federal school tax credit opportunity.

Horne stated, “This bill benefits students in public district schools, charters, and every other school setting. Therefore, I urge Governor Hobbs to sign it. She should join fellow Democrat Governor Jared Polis of Colorado in supporting this program.”

He added, “It is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit that taxpayers can donate up to $1,700 annually to Scholarship Granting Organizations as allowed by the law that give money to cover school expenses. Any school could establish such a scholarship organization to accept contributions and bring more money to the classroom. It does not cost the state any money and would increase funding for education.”

Eligible expenses include books, supplies, tutoring, special needs services, computers, tuition, fees, room and board and transportation covered by the federal Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, which requires enrollment at an eligible school.

Legislation aimed to reveal costs to taxpayers

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne says the governor’s veto of a bi-partisan bill to allow the public to see the salaries of district superintendents and other executive staff is outrageous and a slap against accountability for tax dollars.

Horne said, “The governor’s veto is outrageous and makes no sense. We have a lot of great superintendents, but as an example there is one who makes $400,000 plus benefits and is allowed to run side businesses. Taxpayers have the right to know that. District superintendents, their various assistants and chief financial officers should be accountable to the taxpayers who pay their salaries. The problem right now is that some districts make it difficult or impossible for the public to know how much those public employees are getting paid. H.B. 2075 would have easily fixed that problem. This had support of both Republicans and Democrats, but the governor used her veto pen to make sure taxpayers are kept in the dark.”

He added, “The vast majority of district superintendents and many other executive staff make six-figure salaries because the size and scope of their job is very large. But it is reasonable for the public to know exactly what those salaries are and whether they are appropriate or potentially excessive. The governor’s veto is both disappointing and wrong.”

NEW INTEGRITY RULE: Integrity Rule -40104

As of March 30, 2026, a new special education (SPED) data integrity rule was implemented to validate and capture student exits from SPED services. Under IDEA, students are eligible for SPED services through 21 years of age unless they have graduated with a regular high school diploma. Students who turn 22 years of age during the school year are eligible to complete the year with services; however, they have effectively reached the maximum age allowable for services.

Integrity Message for -40104: Students may not have an exit reason School Is Out when they are over 22 years of age by June 30. Please adjust to exit reason Reached Maximum Age.

This new integrity rule aims to better capture students who are aging out of IDEA eligibility at the end of the reporting year.

The SPED-Related Integrity Rules tool found on our AzEDS SPED Reporting page has been updated to provide troubleshooting guidance for this integrity failure. Please also refer to the SPED Exit validation matrix for allowable SPED and enrollment exit code combinations.

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT

Section 618 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires public education agencies (PEAs) to report specific data each year, including discipline incidents for students receiving special education services, expulsions of students not receiving special education services, and students who exited special education during the reporting year. PEAs review, validate, and certify these data using the Special Education Data Dashboard (SEDD).

The ESS Data Management team is holding a webinar via Zoom to guide PEAs through end-of-year reporting in the SEDD application. The session will cover recent application updates, exit and discipline data requirements, and key deadlines to support accurate and timely reporting. A recording of the webinar will be made available for those unable to attend.

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026  
Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.  
Register for the online training

We hope to see you during the SEDD webinar!

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the ESS Data Management inbox or call us at 602-542-3962.

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT

Special Education Data Updates Webinar: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 

The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will host the next live Special Education Data Updates webinar on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. This session will cover a variety of data topics that will include:    

• Reminders  

• Trending topics  
  • • Voucher Students in AzEDS
    • Discipline Data
    • Exit Data

• Top Three Integrity Errors 
• Out of scope Topics

• Q&A     

Please register by clicking this link. Registration is required to attend. If you have any questions, please email the ESS Data Management inbox.  

Section 618 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires public education agencies (PEAs) to report specific data each year, including discipline incidents for students receiving special education services, expulsions of students not receiving special education services, and students who exited special education during the reporting year. PEAs review, validate, and certify these data using the Special Education Data Dashboard (SEDD).

The ESS Data Management team is holding a webinar via Zoom to guide PEAs through end-of-year reporting in the SEDD application. The session will cover recent application updates, exit and discipline data requirements, and key deadlines to support accurate and timely reporting. A recording of the webinar will be made available for those unable to attend.

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026  
Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.  
Register for the online training

We hope to see you during the SEDD webinar!

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the ESS Data Management inbox or call us at 602-542-3962.