Special Education

ADE/ESS is excited to share that Arizona’s 2022 IDEA Conference will be held in person from September 7–9, 2022 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix.

This year’s theme is Rise Up: Reimagining and Transforming Educational Practices. This cross-stakeholder event includes special education administrative staff, youth and young adults with disabilities, family members and caregivers, state agency staff, educators, service providers, and community members who share a commitment to student success.

ADE/ESS is excited to share that Arizona’s 2022 IDEA Conference will be held in person from September 7–9, 2022 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix.

The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will be hosting our next Special Education Data Updates live webinar on Wednesday, February 16th from 2pm – 3pm.  Registration is required to attend: Register for Special Education Data Updates webinar.  

Special Education Directors,

ESS collects data each year through the Teacher Attrition Survey to make informed decisions about recruitment and retention efforts in Arizona. Participation in the survey is mandatory for all public education agencies in Arizona.

The survey is open and will close on May 4, 2022. Please see this memo for further details. Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the survey can be located online. For additional questions, please email the ESS Recruitment and Retention Inbox. 

Due to upcoming changes to the FY22 ESS Discipline Data Collection (DDC) application, a new XML schema has been released for PEAs that wish to use the bulk upload option via an XML export from their Student Information System. Your student information system vendor will need to update your SIS to this new schema. ESS Data Management is distributing the NEW XML Schema to PEAs, and it is the PEA’s responsibility to deliver this new schema to their own Student Information System vendors. The XML schema can also be found on the Discipline Data webpage of the ESS Data Management website.

An update to an integrity rule for FY 2022 will be introduced into the integrity process on SPED data shortly. This rule is a continuation of our effort to further validate SPED reporting to ensure clean data for the state.   

A one-sheet integrity tool is available on our AzEDS SPED Reporting webpage for troubleshooting tips. It has been added to our SPED Integrity Rules Reference document and referenced on the FY 2022 ESS Data Reporting Updates document. 

Integrity Rule -40066

This rule will validate the submitted reference DescriptorID sent from your Student Information System matches the submitted SPED Least Restrictive Environment name. 

Special Education Directors,

The Arizona Department of Education encourages our public education agencies (PEAs) to register for the Arizona Educator Job Fair to recruit new employees to your school community.

• When: Saturday, February 26, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Where: Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel and Conference Center, 9495 W. Coyotes Blvd, Glendale, AZ 85305
• Registration: Click here to reserve your booth
• Registration Deadline: Thursday, February 10, 2022

Dear Special Education Directors,

All school districts and charter schools are required to annually administer the State Performance Plan Indicator 8 Parent Involvement Survey to parents of students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The survey will open January 18 via ADEConnect ESS Data Surveys. For more information, visit the survey web page.

As part of our ongoing recruitment efforts on behalf of Arizona’s public schools, ADE/ESS compiles and updates a list of education career fairs happening at educator preparation programs across the country.

If your school is planning to recruit for special education teachers from out of the state, we hope this list will make that task a bit easier for you. Review the Education Careers Fair Calendar to support your recruitment efforts this spring. The list is also available on the Arizona Education Employment Board website on the “Employer” page under the “Find a University Job Fair” icon.