ESSU Data Management System

In response to feedback from the field, CDE made the decision to non-renew the contract with AnLar for the Ascend IEP system. To that end, Ascend will no longer be available as of July 1, 2022. Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, CDE will flow through IDEA dollars that would have been expended on the state sponsored IEP system to AUs.  These funds may be used on any IDEA allowable activities, including the purchase of an electronic IEP system.  However, please note that there is no requirement that these funds be used by an AU to purchase an electronic IEP system.  The CDE will continue to contract with AnLar for the DMS.

On July 1, 2022, AnLar launched the new Ascend DMS.  Training will be provided virtually on August 17, 2022, at 2:00 pm, and will be recorded and available for on-demand learning shortly after the training. Registration and meeting information can be found here.  AnLar will also provide two breakout sessions during the Fall Special Education Directors’ Meeting.

As mentioned in communications in April, May, and June, the Frontline DMS is no longer available. AnLar is currently working on migrating the last two years of Frontline DMS documentation into the Ascend DMS. You can expect to see this change no later than October 1, 2022, with the remaining historical DMS documentation following this deliverable date.

AU staff responsible for working in the DMS should try logging into the new DMS as soon as possible to ensure that there are no login issues.  If AU staff do have issues logging into the Ascend DMS, please reach out to your AU LAM (Local Access Manager).  If your LAM can not resolve the issue, please reach out to Melissa Chaffin.