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Private Special Education Schools

According to A.R.S. § 15-765, a school district or county school superintendent may contract with, and make payments to, other public or private schools, institutions and agencies approved by the division of special education, within or without the school district or county, for the education of and provision of services to children with disabilities (per A.R.S. § 15-766) and the conditions and standards prescribed by the division of special education have been met and if unable to provide satisfactory education and services through its own facilities and personnel in accordance with the rules prescribed by the state board of education as provided in section A.R.S. § 15-213.

The Arizona Department of Education grants approvals for private school special education programs that seek to provide specially designed instruction to students placed by a public education agency and meets the criteria as outlined in A.R.S. § R7-2-402. The approval activities and oversight of the Arizona Department of Education for approved private day schools do not relieve school districts of their responsibility to monitor individual students enrolled in these programs. Approval by the Arizona Department of Education does not make the Department a guarantor or insurer for services or programs provided to individual students.

The Department of Education does not have jurisdiction over private non-special education services or services provided to parentally-placed students.

Public Education Agency-Placed vs. Parent-Placed Students in Private Special Education Schools

Public Education Agency-placed (PEA): A public district or charter school determines that one of its students is to be placed outside their PEA into a private placement after considering other least restrictive options. Students placed in such programs generally present with significant emotional, behavioral, and/or educational needs.  For PEAs to generate funding for PEA-placed students, the receiving private special education school must be approved by the Department of Education Exceptional Student Services Unit. Approved special education schools are regulated and monitored by the Department of Education as it relates to services provided to publicly funded students. 

Parent-Placed: A parent places their child in a private day school and independently covers tuition. This also includes parents who utilize Empowerment Scholarship Accounts to pay for their child’s private school tuition. The Department of Education does not have jurisdiction over these programs.  

Approved Private Special Education Schools

  • 2022-23 Approved List (Updated 1-25-2023)
  • 2022-23 Calendars (Updated 9-13-2022) 

Information for Prospective & Renewal Applicants

  • Private Special Education School Application Instruction Manual
  • Start a New Application 

Contact Us

Frequently Asked Questions *NEW*

Concerns/issues with a private special education school placement

Phone: 602-364-4016 

Email: [email protected]

 

Page revised 7/22/22

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From the Exceptional Student Services Blog

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT: Special Education Data Updates Webinar Wednesday, February 15th Thu, Jan 26 2023 Data Management, Updates

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT       

Special Education Data Updates Webinar Wednesday, February 15th 

   The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will host the next Special Education Data Updates live webinar on Wednesday, February 15th, from 2pm – 3pm. This session will cover a variety of data topics that will include (subject to change):   

  • Reminders 
  • Trending topics 
  • Top 3 Integrity Errors 
  • Q&A        

SPED RECRUITMENT & RETENTION UPDATE: GETSET/SETTA Applications now available! Due February 24, 2023 Mon, Jan 23 2023 Professional Learning and Sustainability, Updates

Special Education Directors,

The ADE/ESS Professional Learning and Sustainability unit is pleased to announce two “grow your own” opportunities for educators in Arizona public schools.

  • The General Education Teacher to Special Education Teacher (GETSET) program provides tuition reimbursement to certified general education teachers who want to pursue a career change to become certified in an area of special education. 
     
  • The Special Education Teacher Tuition Assistance (SETTA) program provides tuition reimbursement to paraprofessionals and educational interpreters that leads to special education teaching certification.

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