Office of Special Education

COVID-19 and Special Education

Answers to frequently asked questions such as Compensatory Services, Prior Written Notice and Special Education Evaluations can be found in Special Education FAQ's. To view OSEP issued Question and Answer documents click on OSEP Q & A's.

Special Education FAQ's

OSEP Q & A's

CDE's Office of Special Education has gathered resources to help answer questions around the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to special education.

COVID-19 and Special Education

COVID-19 resources

About the Office of Special Education

This office administers both the state's Exceptional Children's Educational Act (ECEA) and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for children with disabilities. This website is a resource for teachers, administrators, and parents of students with exceptional educational needs due to disability, or learners who are culturally and/or linguistically diverse or have some other special need. The Office of Special Education is one of three offices within the Exceptional Student Services Unit (along with the Office of Facility Schools and the Office of Gifted Education).

Update your Special Education Director and Fiscal Contact

It is critical that ESSU has current contact information for all Special Education Directors and Special Education Fiscal Contacts. We will share important updates and information with you through our listserv, please be sure that we have accurate, updated information. Watch for emails from CDE_SPED for updates and information.

Special Education Director and Fiscal Contact Submission Form (SmartSheet)

Quick Links

ESSU Responsibility List (PDF)
Find Your Special Education Director
Topic Index - alphabetical list of areas within the Office of Special Education

What's New

The ASD Guidelines (Guidelines for the Educational Evaluation of Autism Spectrum Disorder)

Contains information that may be used to guide the process of identifying students with ASD and developing appropriate programming, supports and services.

CSDB Report - Program Review for the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind

Read the independent program review team's CSDB report - a report of the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (PDF).

Change in Reporting Requirements for Measuring Indicator 13 Compliance.

View the memo, webinar handout & compliance tips on CDE's Indicator 13 webpage

CMAS ELA Accommodation Policy Updated to Align with Colorado Academic Standards Expectations (PDF)

Ways to Search this Site

You can use the Google Search box (only searches CDE) at the top right side of the webpage and type in what you are looking for.
You can use our Topic Index - alphabetical list of topics for the Office of Special Education.

Find what you were looking for?

If you have problems with broken links or accessing the content on this page, please contact our web content coordinator Amanda Timmerman at Timmerman_A@cde.state.co.us. Please copy the URL link for this page into the email when referencing the problem you are experiencing.