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Exceptional Student Services

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specialeducation
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Contact name or title
ESS Reception Desk
Contact phone number
(602) 542-4013

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT: Beginning of the Year ESS Data Management Training

Updates
Data Management
DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT Beginning of the Year ESS Data Management Training The Exceptional Student Services (ESS) Data Management team is pleased to announce Beginning of the Year ESS Data Management training for the 2026–2027 reporting year. This training will be offered virtually and recorded for...

IDEA CONFERENCE INFO: Last Chance to Guarantee Your Seat at Arizona's 2026 IDEA Conference

Updates
IDEA Conference
Registration for Arizona's 2026 IDEA Conference: Stronger Systems, Better Outcomes—for Every Student is currently open and will remain open until July 27, 2026, or until conference capacity is reached. Once capacity is reached, interested attendees will be placed on a waitlist.

EXTERNAL PD INFO: Interpreting, Mentoring, Education & Training (IMET) Online Courses

Updates
ADE/ESS is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the Interpreting, Mentoring, Education & Training (IMET) self-paced online courses offered by Utah State University. These courses are designed to support continuous professional learning for educational sign language interpreters and...

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT: Integrity Error -40059 Revised

Data Management
Updates
DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT Integrity Error -40059 Revised Integrity Error -40059 has been revised to help ensure that all students receiving special education services who have been expelled or placed on long-term suspension (LTS) are receiving a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Prior Logic...

Assistive Technology Professional Learning Opportunities

Assistive Technology Professional Learning Opportunities

Dispute Resolution

Dispute Resolution

Dispute Resolution

If you have a general education issue about student schedules, curriculum, graduation requirements, personnel matters, staff assignments, school policy matters, facemask requirements, vaccination requirements, gifted programs, before/after school programs, or the promotion/ retention of students, contact the Public Education Agency's (PEA) administration first, even if your child has an IEP or 504 plan. 

If you have allegations of discrimination, harassment, and specific issues regarding Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, they are addressed by the United States Department of Education/Office for Civil Rights (OCR). OCR can be reached by phone at 303-844-5695 or by email at [email protected]. 

To report immoral or unprofessional conduct by educators, contact the State Board of Education Investigative Unit.   

If you are alleging violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B, or special education concerns for students with IEPs, or for students in the process of being evaluated for special education, see the options below.

Special Education

Special Education

Special Education

Exceptional Student Services (ESS) ensures that public education agencies (PEAs) in Arizona have special education programs, policies, and procedures that comply with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its implementing regulations and that eligible children and youth with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education (FAPE). ESS provides professional learning opportunities and technical assistance to schools, supports the needs of families and students with disabilities, monitors schools for compliance with the regulations that implement the IDEA, and administers the IDEA Entitlement grant.

Public Comment Form

ESS accepts feedback from the public concerning the IDEA Part B State Application, the State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), special education indicators, proposed legislation, and proposed or revised policies and procedures. This form allows users to submit public comments for these special education items. NOTE: This form is not for Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA).

Contact Us

(602) 542-4013

[email protected]

Contact the Arizona Department of Education

MONITORING INFO: SY 2026-2027 Programmatic Monitoring Manual is Now Available

Updates
Program Support and Monitoring
ESS/Program Support and Monitoring (PSM) is proud to announce the release of the SY 2026–2027 Programmatic Monitoring Manual.

INTERNAL PD Opportunity: Become a Certified K-12 Braille Transcriber

Updates
Academic Achievement & Inclusive Practices
The ADE/ESS Academic Achievement & Inclusive Practices team is pleased to announce the K–12 State Braille Transcriber Project.