Special Education Blog

SPECIAL EDUCATION INFO: ADE/ESS Statement on Federal Government Changes

  • Thu, Oct 16 2025  •
    • Updates

The Arizona Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services (ADE/ESS), recognizes the uncertainty that recent federal reductions in force within the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs may bring to education leaders across the state. We want to acknowledge the concern these national changes may cause and provide reassurance and clarity regarding Arizona’s unwavering commitment to children and youth with disabilities.

INTERNAL PD OPPORTUNITY: “AAC Essentials: What Every Educator Needs to Know” with Rachel Madel

  • Wed, Oct 8 2025  •
    • Updates
    • Assistive Technology Upcoming Events
    • Assistive Technology

The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is pleased to announce our second 2025-26 national presenter: “AAC Essentials: What Every Educator Needs to Know” with Rachel Madel M.A., CCC-SLP.

INTERNAL PD INFO: Professional Learning to Support Arizona Paraeducators

  • Wed, Oct 8 2025  •
    • Updates
    • Professional Learning and Sustainability

The National Resource Center for Paraeducators (NRCP) and the Center for Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education (TAESE), in partnership with the ADE/ESS, are offering monthly, low-cost professional learning webinars for paraeducators, related service providers (RSPs), teachers, administrators, and other educators.

RELATED SVCS INFO: Updating Lead Related Service Providers Group Email Lists

  • Tue, Oct 7 2025  •
    • Updates
    • Professional Learning and Sustainability

Each year, ESS updates our contact lists of Lead Speech-Language Pathologists, Lead Occupational Therapists, Lead Physical Therapists, Lead School Psychologists, Assistive Technology Specialists, and Adaptive Physical Education Teachers.

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

  • Mon, Oct 6 2025  •
    • Updates
    • Inclusive Practices
    • Academic Achievement & Inclusive Practices

Registration Now Open: Interpreting, Mentoring, Education & Training (IMET) Online Courses

INTERNAL PD INFO: Register Now for In-Person PSM/Secondary Transition Regional Training

  • Mon, Oct 6 2025  •
    • Updates
    • Transition Training
    • Transition News
    • Training

Secondary Transition regional trainings are back! The ADE/ESS Program Support & Monitoring (PSM) unit and the Secondary Transition Team are partnering to offer in-person training on current secondary transition-related requirements and best practices.

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT: FY 2026 October 1 Data Collection Application is now OPEN

  • Thu, Oct 2 2025  •
    • Updates
    • Data Management

FY 2026 October 1 Data Collection Application is now OPEN!

INTERNAL PD INFO: Help Shape Assistive Technology Professional Learning in Arizona- Please Share with Your Teams

  • Wed, Oct 1 2025  •
    • Updates
    • Assistive Technology Upcoming Events
    • Assistive Technology

The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is seeking input from educators, therapists, and school staff across the state to help shape future professional learning opportunities in assistive technology. 

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT: Special Education Data Updates Webinar

  • Wed, Oct 1 2025  •
    • Updates
    • Data Management

Special Education Data Updates Webinar: Wednesday, October 15, 2025 

Internal Virtual PD: Free Assistive Technology JOTs

  • Thu, Sep 25 2025  •
    • Updates
    • Training
    • Assistive Technology Upcoming Events
    • Assistive Technology

Are you overwhelmed by professional development? Don’t have time for a 90-minute webinar? We got you! Join the ADE/ESS Assistive Technology Team for our fall series, Assistive Technology: Just One Thing (JOT). In these quick 30-minute sessions, we will highlight a single assistive technology tool or strategy that you can use to support your students.