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. It 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).
What's New
Colorado Autism Conference 2019
Date(s): June 4-6, 2019
We are pleased to announce CDE and CSU are now accepting proposal submissions to present at the first statewide autism conference.
State Defined Alternate Diploma - Information and Feedback
Title I of the 2015 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), allows for the inclusion in graduation accountability of a state defined alternate diploma option for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
CDE is hosting a series of Stakeholders’ Education and Feedback Sessions to provide information on this option and the implications of a Colorado state-defined alternate diploma for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
This is an opportunity to read about the proposed options and to provide feedback online if you are unable to make any of the sessions.
Quick Links
- ESSU Responsibility List (Updated 10/2017)
- Find Your Special Education Director
- Topic Index - alphabetical list of areas within the Office of Special Education
- Technical Assistance Documents
- Guidance Documents
- CDE Professional Development
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 for the Office of Special Education.
If you have problems finding something and/or questions about our website, please contact our Web Coordinator and be sure to copy the URL into the email to reference the page with the problem.
