Office of 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.

• 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

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

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).

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 SPED Director of Record Contact Information

• SPED Fiscal Contact Information

ESSU Newsletter

The ESSU e-newsletter is our offices 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.

• ESSU Newlsetter Sign-up

• Archived ESSU Newsletters

Quick Links

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

1. 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.
   
2. You can use our Topic Index - alphabetical list of topics for the Office of Special Education.