Data Pipeline Snapshots - Special Education December Count

Overview

The Special Education December Count collection is an annual count of students receiving Part B Special Education services as of December 1st. The information is used to determine state level ECEA funding that helps to provide specialized student services. Special Education December Staff Data is also required to obtain data on special education staff employed by administrative units on December 1st of each year so that appropriate licensure and endorsement of staff may be verified; and reports generated for the State Legislature, Federal government, local Administrative Units, and the public.

Deadlines

• Snapshot Opens: Thursday November 2, 2023   Final Snapshot Due: February 23, 2024
• 2023-2024 Special Education December Count Timeline (PDF) (posted 08/30/2023)

File Layout and Definitions

• 2023-2024 Special Education December Count Snapshot File Layout (PDF) (updated 08/24/2023)

Business Rules

• 2023-2024 Special Education December Count Staff Snapshot Business Rules (XLS) (updated 11/21/2023)
• 2023-2024 Special Education December Count Student Snapshot Business Rules (XLS) (posted 11/21/20203)

Trainings

• 2023-2024 Special Education December Training Webinar Slides (PPTX) Webinar Recording (updated 11/15/2023)
• 2022-2023 Special Education December Count Reports Training Slides​ (PPTX) (updated 02/03/2023) Webinar Recording (recording from January 2022)
• Tuition Contract Reporting in the Participation File Training Video (MP4) (posted 10/20/2021)
• Overview of Caseload Match- December Count Snapshot Training Video (MP4) (posted 10/20/2021) 
• Educational Orphans and Students in Detention Centers Video (MP4) (posted 04/15/2021)
• Pupils Attendance Information Code Video (MP4) (posted 11/23/2020)
• Educational Environment Codes Training Video (MP4) (posted 12/07/2020)
• Parentally Placed in Private School Training Video (MP4) (posted 04/05/2022)

Staff Approval Matrix (SAM) and Licensing References

• December Count Office Hours - Staff Approval Matrix/SAM (PPTX) Webinar Recording (posted 11/28/2023)
• Special Education Licensing Requirements by Job Classification and Fully Qualified Status (XLS) (updated 05/04/2023)
  • This report is a reference for SAM Cognos Report: 1.5 Non-Qualified Personnel Status Reporting
• Special Education Endorsement Requirements per Student Disability (XLS) (updated 05/04/2023)
• Staff Approval Matrix (SAM: 1.5) Report Fact Sheet (PDF) (updated 06/22/2020)

Additional Links

• December Count Exception Instructions and Template (XLS) (updated 11/04/2022)
• Detention Center Students-December Count Guidance (DOCX) (updated 07/28/2020)
• Educational Orphans Guidance (DOCX) (posted 05/21/2019)
• Pupils Attendance Information Codes (PDF) (09/11/2018)
• Pupils Attendance Information Codes Flow Chart (PDF) (09/11/2018)
• December Count Educational Environments (updated 03/04/2020)
• Special Education December Count Grant Codes (updated 10/18/2021)
• Teacher Qualifications Under ESSA (Link) 
• ESSA In-Field Endorsement Crosswalk (11/09/2021)
• Special Education December Count-Student Data Content Guide (PDF) (updated 11/01/2023)
• Special Education December Count-Staff Data Content Guide (PDF)  (updated 11/01/2023)
• CDE Policy Related to ECEA Funding and December IEP Completion Deadline for the 2022-2023 Academic Year (updated 10/12/2022)
• Online Learning and Education Environments (posted 07/20/2020)

Reports

• Sped December Student Snapshot Cognos Reports Specs Guide (PDF) (posted 07/24/2023)
• Sped December Staff Snapshot Cognos Reports Specs Guide  (PDF) (posted 10/20/2023)
• Special Education December Count Reports Checklist (updated 02/02/2023)
• Special Education December Count Flag Explanations (updated 01/15/2021)

Contact: Lindsey Heitman at SpedDecCount@cde.state.co.us