Special Education Directors' Corner

In the State of Colorado, Local Education Agencies (LEAs) as defined in IDEA are called Administrative Units (AUs). Each AU is required to employ a Special Education Director of Record (ECEA Rule 3.01).

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What's New

Overview of ECEA Rule changes (posted May 16, 2025) 

On March 13, 2025, the Colorado State Board of Education (SBE) adopted changes to the Rules governing implementation of Colorado’s Exceptional Children’s Educational Act, 1 CCR, 301-8 (ECEA Rules).

The attached document provides a brief overview of substantive changes to ECEA Rules, which specifically addresses the following topics: Abbreviated School Day Schedules, Dispute Resolution, Personnel Qualifications for Paraprofessionals, Significant Change of Placement, and Standards for Administrative Units.

If you have any questions about this document, please contact Candace Hawkins.

• Overview of ECEA Rule Changes Final May 2025

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Special Education Generalist Teacher Shortage Grant (posted May 16, 2025)

The Colorado Department of Education’s (CDE) Office of Special Education is offering 2025-2026 IDEA grant funding, with $120,000 available funds, to address the critical shortage of special education generalist teachers. Grant applications are open on the GAINS website from May 5th – June 16th. 

For more information visit the Special Education Generalist Teacher Shortage Grant webpage or contact Michael Ramirez at 720-460-6251.

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Child Identification Obligations for CDEC Enrolled Children (posted May 2, 2025)

The Colorado State Board of Education recently approved technical changes to the Rules governing the implementation of Colorado’s Exceptional Children’s Educational Act (ECEA) to clarify and align procedures related to the identification and referral of preschool-aged children enrolled in Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) programs. These updates were recommended by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to ensure consistency between ECEA Rules in sections 4.02 and 8.04 regarding child identification responsibilities when a child is enrolled in a school that is a CDEC program. 

As a result of these changes, preschool aged children attending CDEC programs considered to be schools, which includes licensed childcare centers, should be referred to the AU of attendance when there is a concern that the child may have a qualifying disability and need special education. Referrals to special education for children not enrolled in a public or private school should be made to the AU of residence.

May 2025 ECEA Rule Change: Child Identification Obligations for CDEC Enrolled Children outlines the changes, which we encourage you to review carefully and share with others in your system with responsibility for child find. Should you have questions or require clarification, please do not hesitate to contact Melissa Taucher at taucher_m@cde.state.co.us. 

• May 2025 ECEA Rule Change: Child Identification Obligations for CDEC Enrolled Children

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May 2025 ECEA Rule Changes to Form a New or Reorganized Administrative Unit (posted April 25, 2025)

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OSEP Required Corrective Action Plan (CAP) - Proportionate Share (posted March 14, 2025)

After a recent monitoring conducted by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) CDE was notified that Colorado’s procedures governing the calculation of Proportionate Share Funds for 3- to 5-year-olds is not in compliance with the requirements of IDEA.  As a result, the state is required to engage in a corrective action plan (CAP) to remedy the noncompliance.  As part of the CAP ordered by OSEP, each AU in the state must recalculate Proportionate Share funds for the 3-to-5-year-olds using the best available data beginning with 2019 through 2023.

•   OSEP Required Corrective Action Plan (CAP)

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Special Education Director Resources

• CDE News Bureau
• Standard Record Review Protocol (PDF)
• Standard Record Review Instructions (PDF)
• Comprehensive Plan Documents:
  • Model Comprehensive Plan (Revised March 2015) (DOC)
  • Directions for Submitting Assurances and Comprehensive Plan (Aug. 2015) (DOC)
  • Assurance Statement (August 2015) (DOC)

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AU Special Education Director of Record and Fiscal Contact Information

ESSU must have current contact information for all state-level Special Education Directors and Special Education Fiscal Contacts. Our office communicates important updates and information through our listserv, please be sure that we have accurate, updated information. Communications from this listserv will come from CDE_SPED.

• AU Director of Record & SPED Fiscal Contact Form

ESSU Newsletter

The ESSU e-newsletter is our office's primary form of communication with the field. It is published once a month and contains information from the Office of Gifted and Talented, Office of Facility Schools, and Office of Special Education.

• Newsletters, listserv and office hours
• ESSU Newsletter Sign-up
• Archived ESSU Newsletters

Year-at-a-Glance for SY 2024-2025 (PDF)

May 2025

1

2024-25 IEP Record Reviews completed for all age groups in the DMS

1

2025-26 Federal Application Project Narratives (NEW) Window Opens

1

2025-26 Federal Application Project Narrative Amendment Window Opens

1

SPED Discipline and SPED EOY open for 2024-2025

June 2025

1

2025-26 Federal Application Budget Window Opens

30

2025-26 Federal Application Project Narratives (NEW) Window Closes

30

Annual restraint review reports are due

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Call for Proposals for the Fall ESSU Directors’ Meeting (posted May 8, 2025)

CDE is offering an opportunity for individuals to submit proposals for breakout sessions for the Fall 2025 ESSU Directors’ Meeting.

The theme for the meeting is “Bright Spots in Challenging Times”. Despite the challenges of leading public education for exceptional students, Colorado has many ‘bright spots’ of evidenced-based practices occurring across the state. This is an opportunity to highlight the positive impact your AU has had on student outcomes and share the systems and structures that led to your successes. We encourage you to contribute your insights, strategies, and best practices to help us provide sessions that offer practical, actionable knowledge to support those working to serve students with exceptionalities (Special Education, Gifted Education, and Facility Schools).

Additional information about the Call for Proposals can be found on the Call for Proposals – 2025 CDE Directors Meeting Fall flyer.

For more information, please contact Julie Rottier-Lukens at rottier-lukens_j@cde.state.co.us

 

Special Education Trainings or Professional Development Opportunities

Use this comprehensive search tool to find Colorado Department of Education professional development opportunities, including in-person and self-paced trainings, webinars, and more.

On-Demand Special Education Trainings

Check out the library of on-demand resources that you can view and participate in at any time.

Additional Educator Resources

Office of Special Education - Educator Resources

Additional professional development and resources addressing the needs of specific disabilities are available through the Office of Special Education.

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Federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

• OSERS FAQ: The Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under the IDEA (PDF)
• OCR FAQ: The Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PDF)
• K - 12 Resources for Afghan Evacuees, January 2022 (PDF)

Colorado State

• Colorado General Assembly
• Adoption of Extended Part C Option for Colorado, April 2022 (PDF)
• CDE Model Policy for Abbreviated School Day (PDF)
• May 2025 ECEA Rule Change: Child Identification Obligations for CDEC Enrolled Children
• Overview of ECEA Rule Changes Final - May 2025
• Revised Guidance for HB 22-1260 – Access to Medically Necessary Services – January 2025 (PDF)
• Memorandum Regarding State Complaint Procedures (PDF)

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• Special Education and Educational Surrogate Parents - Technical Assistance and Training Manual 2023 (PDF)
• Educational Surrogate Parent (ESP) Guidance Memo, June 2018 (PDF)
• Update on Educational Surrogate Parent and Counsel for Youth Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Assignment of an ESP Form (PDF)
  • Mail form to:
    • Colorado Dept. of Education
      Office of Special Education
      4th Floor
      201 E. Colfax Avenue
      Denver, CO 80203
  • Submit form via FAX to:
    • 303-866-6767

Interested in Serving as an ESP? 

Contact Sherrell Bethel, Parent Training & Information Director
sbethel@peakparent.org

Address Educational Surrogate Parent (ESP) questions to:

Katherine Rains
Rains_k@cde.state.co.us

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Applications for new or reorganized AUs, dates for the 25/26 school year TBD.

• New or Reorganization AU Application (Word Doc)
• Fact Sheet - Applications for or Reorganized Administrative Units (PDF)
• Instructions for Third Party Report (PDF)
• Additional Information from Existing Administrative Unit
• ECEA Rule Changes to Form a New or Reorganized Administrative Unit (MAY 2025) (PDF)

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There are many ways that children and families can be displaced. There are floods, fires, and other types of natural disasters that can destroy homes or make them uninhabitable for periods of time. Families can also experience hardships that result in major home life changes.

• Supporting Displaced Students: Special Education

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General Assistance

Administrative Unit (AU) Contacts

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