DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT Upcoming change for Fiscal Year 2024 - Special Education Disabilities allowed for Preschool Programs for Students with Disabilities.An update to allowable special education (SPED) disabilities for preschool programs will be introduced in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. This update is a continuation of our effort to further validate SPED reporting and ensure accurate data for the state.Updates to integrity rules and validation matrices will take effect on 7/1/23 to allow all SPED disabilities to be reported for preschool programs except EDP.

Special Education Directors,The Alternate Assessment Advisory Committee has developed a new resource for ALL parents and families, A Parent Guide to Understanding Arizona’s Statewide Assessments. From a parent’s perspective, this is information that is necessary and helpful in understanding Statewide Assessments. The document has also been translated into Spanish.Schools can:Post or link this resource on their Assessment webpageShare this document (either electronically or printed) with their families during Individual Education Program (IEP) meetingsInclude this document in presentations on Curriculum Nights or when Statewide Testing kicks off in Spring

Special Education Directors,Please share the following math professional learning opportunities with general and special education teachers who teach mathematics.Virtual Professional Learning Opportunities:The following virtual sessions are being offered via Zoom and are free to attend.

Special Education Directors,The Arizona Education Job Fair & Career Expo will take place on February 4, 2023, from 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Conference Center.The Job Fair and Career Expo is an excellent opportunity for you to recruit new employees to your school community.

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT      New Technical Assistance Document for Reporting Parentally-Placed Students on an ISP to AzEDSThe following information applies to school districts with a geographic boundary only.School districts with a geographic boundary providing Special Education (SPED) services to parentally-placed students on an Individual Service Plan (ISP) are required to report SPED services to AzEDS.A new technical assistance document has been developed to assist school districts with this reporting requirement.

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT       October 1 Enrollment Data for Fiscal Year 2023  Please review the October 1 Enrollment Data information below. This coincides with the ODC Phase II due date of January 18, 2023.

Looking for self-paced professional learning on current special education topics of interest?Special Education Learning Experiences for Competency in Teaching (SELECT) is a federally funded program sponsored by ADE/ESS and offered through the Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University. SELECT courses are recommended for special and general education teachers, administrators, related service personnel, paraeducators, and other interested individuals.Certified school personnel can take SELECT classes for renewal hours.

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT Special Education Data Updates Webinar Wednesday, November 16th  The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will be hosting the next Special Education Data Updates live webinar on Wednesday, November 16th from 2pm – 3pm.

Special Education Directors,The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is excited to announce our next 2022–23 national presenter: Therese Willkomm, PhD. Dr. Willkomm’s workshop is designed for special educators and related service providers.Making AT for Educational Success: A “Hands On” Make and Take Workshop

Special Education Directors and Preschool Coordinators, The ADE/ESS Early Childhood Special Education unit will host the 2023 Summit for Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education in partnership with Arizona’s Early Intervention Program on March 2–3, 2023. The Summit is a virtual event and will offer presentations for teachers, direct and related services providers, administrators, and families of children with disabilities on best practices for working with young children with disabilities.