Special Education Directors' Corner

What's New

HB22-1260 Access to Medically Necessary Services for Students

HB22-1260 Access to Medically Necessary Services for Students requires each Administrative Unit (AU) to adopt a policy that addresses how a student who has a prescription from a qualified health-care provider for medically necessary treatment receives such treatment in the school setting as required by applicable federal and state laws. It also requires each AU to compile and submit aggregate data to CDE annually.

• Summary of HB22-1260, link to training power point, and data collection process
• Link to the full HB22-1260 document

New Process for Verification of UPK Provider

In recognition of changes in staffing availability over the summer months, and a need for a simplified process to ensure preschool students with IEPs are enrolled in UPK programs in alignment with their IEPs, CDE and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood have developed the following updated agreements.  The purpose of this process is to ensure alignment between the UPK placement of preschoolers and the student’s IEP. This method may be used starting now, until further notice, and while longer-term solutions are being developed.

For Students with Active IEPs, Districts, and AUs may:

1. For AUs that are not registered UPK providers, consider entering a short-term DSA with CDEC. CDEC will work to have a Data Sharing Agreement template available for AUs to sign as soon as possible.
2. AU’s send a list to CDEC of all preschool children who are not currently matched in alignment with the student’s IEP or students whose families have not yet applied for services through the BridgeCare system through a secured data sharing platform of their choice. Be sure to include: the first and last name of the student, the student's date of birth, the full name of the school where the child should be placed, and the program type (part-time, half-day, full-day).
3. CDEC will directly place the student in the correct program in alignment with the child’s IEP outside of the deferred acceptance algorithm (DAA).
4. When the parent-requested placement is different than the IEP team placement, the AU will communicate directly with the family about the need to place the child in accordance with the IEP team’s decision. 
5. AUs should send an updated list to CDEC on an ongoing basis.

For students identified for special education services and placed during summer months:

1. IEP teams identify children for eligibility and, when appropriate, place the child.
2. Support families to apply for services through BridgeCare, in alignment with the student’s IEP.
3. AUs should include these newly identified students on the list that need direct placement by CDEC. (See number 2 above).
4. CDEC will directly place the student in the program in alignment with the child’s IEP outside of the deferred acceptance algorithm (DAA).

For consultation and support of direct placement of students with IEPs (outside the UPK BridgeCare deferred acceptance algorithm), please contact:

Angie Delin, UPK Specialist
720-355-4902, Email Angela Delin

Or

Dawn Odean, Director Universal Preschool

Colorado Department of Early Childhood

Cell Phone 720.483.5505 and dawn.odean@state.co.us    

General questions about preschool special education or this process, reach out to Heidi White at white_h@cde.state.co.us and 303-501-0837.

Special Education and UPK

In the latter half of the 22-23 school year, CDE released Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about special education and universal preschool and CDE Standards for Placement of Preschoolers with IEPS in Educational Programs. The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is responsible for administering special education, while the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) is responsible for administering UPK. Answers were developed by CDE with consultation from CDEC. New information and resources, including additional questions and answers will be added on this CDE webpage. Please direct questions to the Early Childhood Special Education team, or Heidi White, at white_h@cde.state.co.us.