Special Education Directors' Corner

Each Administrative Unit (AU) has a designated Director of Record (ECEA Rule 3.01). Within each AU, there may be additional personnel supporting the Director of Record in executing on the requirements of IDEA and ECEA. 

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Quick Links

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• Fiscal Management
• Colorado Integrated Monitoring and Accountability Process
• Sustaining Compliance & Improvement
• Special Education Directors' Handbook (PDF)
• 2024-2025 Calendar Task Checklist
• Year-at-a-Glance for SY 2024-2025 (PDF)
• ESSU Responsibility List
• CDE Office of Special Education Staff Contacts
• Office of Special Education Guidance & Technical Assistance Documents
• Upcoming and Archived Trainings
  • (Special Education under "Topics" on the left)
• CDE News Bureau
• Standard Record Review Protocol (PDF)
• Standard Record Review Instructions (PDF)
• Comprehensive Plan Documents:
  • Model Comprehensive Plan (Revised March 2015) (DOC)
  • Directions for Submitting Assurances and Comprehensive Plan (Aug. 2015) (DOC)
  • Assurance Statement (August 2015) (DOC)

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 Director of Record & SPED Fiscal Contact Form

ESSU Newsletter

The ESSU e-newsletter is our office's 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 Newsletter Sign-up
• Archived ESSU Newsletters

Year-at-a-Glance for SY 2024-2025 (PDF)

April 2025     

10^th to 11^th

Colorado Exceptional Student Services Unit Spring Directors Meeting

May 2025

1^st 

2024-25 IEP Record Reviews completed for all age groups in the DMS

1^st

2023-24 Federal Application Project Narratives (NEW) Window Opens

1^st

SPED Discipline and SPED EOY open for 2024-2025

2025 Colorado ESSU Spring Directors Meeting

Join us for a two-day directors’ meeting that will focus on improving services and outcomes for students. This collaborative event will bring together educators and leaders to share best practices, discuss innovative strategies, and explore solutions that support the diverse needs of these exceptional students.

Dates: April 10 to 11, 2025
Location: Sheraton Denver West, 360 Union Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80228

Registration closes March 19, 2025

Register here for the 2025 Colorado ESSU Spring Directors Meeting.

Special Education Trainings or Professional Development Opportunities

On-Demand Special Education Trainings

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• Special Education and Educational Surrogate Parents - Technical Assistance and Training Manual 2023 (PDF)
• Educational Surrogate Parent (ESP) Guidance Memo, June 2018 (PDF)
• Update on Educational Surrogate Parent and Counsel for Youth Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Assignment of an ESP Form 2024-2025 (PDF)

Interested in Serving as an ESP? 

Contact Sherrell Bethel, Parent Training & Information Director (sbethel@peakparent.org).

Address Educational Surrogate Parent (ESP) questions to:

Katherine Rains
Rains_k@cde.state.co.us

Submit form via FAX to:

303-866-6767

Mail form to:

Colorado Dept. of Education
Office of Special Education
4th Floor
201 E. Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80203

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Federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

• OSERS FAQ: The Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under the IDEA (PDF)
• OCR FAQ: The Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PDF)

Colorado State

• Colorado General Assembly
• Adoption of Extended Part C Option for Colorado, April 2022 (PDF)
• K - 12 Resources for Afghan Evacuees (PDF)

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Applications for new or reorganized AUs, dates for the 25/26 school year TBD.

• New or Reorganization AU Application (Word Doc)
• Fact Sheet - Applications for or Reorganized Administrative Units (PDF)
• Instructions for Third Party Report (PDF)
• Additional Information from Existing Administrative Unit

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

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General Assistance

Administrative Unit (AU) Contacts

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