Special Education Directors' Corner

Ascend Colorado (AnLar)

Ascend Colorado is the new, customized Individualized Education Program (IEP) system currently under development with the Colorado Department of Education by AnLar LLC.  The new system will be available to all Administrative Units (AU) beginning July 1, 2021.  Please visit the Colorado Ascend website at the link below.

Ascend Colorado

Ascend Colorado Webpage

CDE Resources

• The RFP docs are available at www.colorado.gov/vss -- click on Public Access and enter “2020000016” in the Keyword Search field
• Enrich to Ascend Presentation 

Ascend (AnLar) Meeting Invitation

Do you have questions or just want to learn more about Ascend Colorado? AnLar and CDE are offering a one-hour interactive learning session on updates and frequently asked questions related to Ascend. Please select one of the four available time options to participate. Registration will be limited to 35 participants for each session to allow time for questions. Please only select one meeting date when registering, and only two participants per AU. Meeting details and Zoom link will be emailed separately before the call. 

Meeting Dates and Times

• Thursday, January 28, 9:00 am - 10:00 am MST
• Thursday, February 11, 9:00 am - 10:00 am MST
• Thursday, February 18, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm MST
• Wednesday, February 24, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm MST

To register click the Eventbrite link below and select the date you would like to attend. 

Eventbrite link  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ascend-colorado-information-meetings-tickets-135394397287

What's New

Changes to the reporting of the graduation status of students with disabilities

Given the implementation of H.B.19-1066, students with disabilities who complete the graduation requirements and continue the services must be reported as “graduates” the year in which the students complete the graduation requirements. The reporting changes have been made to the Student End of Year (EOY) data collection to reflect this new requirement. Please see this guidance document for how these students should be reported starting in the SY2020-21 Student EOY.

CDE Policy Related to ECEA Funding and December IEP Completion Deadline for the 2020-21 Academic Year

Please review this document for more information on the ECEA Funding and December IEP Completion Policy for the 2020-21 Academic Year only.

2020-2021 Standard Record Review

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) recognizes that educators, students, and families are facing unprecedented circumstances and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time, however, the U.S. Department of Education has not granted waivers related to monitoring of the compliance of IEPs, and we must therefore proceed with the annual IEP review process for SY2020-21. Historically, AUs reviewed IEPs that amount to 3% of the December count IEP enrollment with a minimum cap of 10 and the maximum cap of 50. In SY2020-21, the maximum cap was reduced to 30 to reduce the burden on AUs during this time. AUs must complete IEP file reviews for all age groups by June 2, 2021. Details of the number of reviews required in each age category and directions for completing the reviews can be found in a document labeled, “IEP Record Review Directions SY2020-21” located in the Attachments List of the Compliance tab in the Data Management System (DMS).

• 2020-2021 Standard Record Review Including Early Childhood and Transition Age Students(PDF)
• Standard Record Review Instructions 2020-2021 (PDF)

Changes in reporting educational environments for 5-year-old kindergartners

• 5-year-old kindergartners must be reported with school-age educational environment categories starting in December Count 2020 (School Year 2020-21). Please see the memo below for details.
  • Memo – 5-year-old Educational Environment (PDF)