The Exceptional Student Services Unit (ESSU) of the Colorado Department of Education serves students with exceptional educational needs. This monthly e-newsletter is sent to administrators, educators and support staff throughout Colorado. To access a calendar of upcoming events, training sessions and other important dates, click here.
In this email:
Recent News
Local Educational Agencies fiscal risk assessments available Oct. 19
It is CDE’s responsibility to assess fiscal risk for each of the state's Local Educational Agencies (Administrative Units, BOCES, and State Operated Programs) as part of the state's obligation to monitor subrecipients under the Education Department General Administrative Regulations 2 CFR Part 200. As was stated at the fall Special Education Directors’ Meeting on Sept. 20, the fiscal team in ESSU, in conjunction with the Grants Fiscal Management Office, has completed a fiscal risk assessment on each LEA. Those assessments will be posted in the LEA’s Data Management System as an attachment under the fiscal tab no later than Friday, Oct. 19.
For more information, contact Vicki Graham at 303-866-6442 or graham_v@cde.state.co.us.
CESUG minutes summary for September 2018 meeting
The CESUG minutes summary for the Sept. 18 meeting is available by following this link. For more information, contact Heidi Derr at 303-866-6109 or derr_h@cde.state.co.us.
New Results Matter handbook available
The New Results Matter handbook is now available.
Find out what you need to know as a Results Matter participant using our all-new, completely refreshed handbook. Here are just a few examples of the topics covered:
- OSEP Preschool Outcomes reporting
- Assessing preschoolers with disabilities in least restrictive environments
- Professional learning resources
- Family engagement strategies
- Administrator responsibilities
For more information, contact Nicholas Ortiz at 303-866-3368 or ortiz_n@cde.state.co.us.
Enrich assessment accommodations updated
Assessment accommodations in Enrich are now available. The update aligns the approved accommodations with each state assessment. In the event a provider needs to amend an accommodation in a current IEP, the drop-down menu will not appear due to the quantity and types of changes in the update. The amended accommodations will need to be documented in the amendment form and the SAC and/or DAC notified of the change to ensure the student receives the appropriate accommodation at the time of assessment. Going forward, only the new accommodations will be available in any new IEP action outside of the amendment.
For Enrich questions contact Heidi Derr at 303-866-6109 or derr_h@cde.state.co.us.
Training and Professional Development
Twice-Exceptional (2e) district support available
Children with disabilities can also be gifted. The 2e cadre provides training and support -- from online courses to customized professional development. Our next 2e Level 2 course is in-person on Friday, Nov. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 1.
Our next 2e Level 1 course begins in January 2019. Please see the CDE website and Administrative Unit/district support brochure for more information or contact Cynthia Rundquist, 2e project coordinator, at 303-866-6232 or rundquist_c@cde.state.co.us.
Colorado Society of School Psychologists Fall 2018 Conference Nov. 1-3
CDE is partnering with the Colorado Society of School Psychologists for the fall conference set for Thursday, Nov. 1, to Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Keystone Conference Center. Each year the conference draws school psychologists, social workers, counselors, special educators, advocates, directors, administrators, university professors and others to participate. This year’s theme is Fostering Relationships and Resiliency. The goal is to empower school psychologists as educators to positively impact students who face adversity and to be champions for school mental health.
Follow this link to view the conference line-up.
Follow this link to register with a credit card.
To register with a check, use this form.
Conference attendees will receive room rates starting at $139/night at the Keystone Lodge and Spa. In addition to hotel room options, studio condos will be available as well. Book your room by calling the Keystone Group Reservations at 800-258-0437 and refer to group code "CMOSP8" or reserve online. For more information, contact Julia Wigert at 303-866-3808 or wigert_j@cde.state.co.us.
Deadlines
Assessment Unit - Unique Accommodations Requests
By Friday, Dec. 14, district accountability coordinators must submit Unique Accommodation Requests (UARs) to CDE's Assessment Unit. UARs are required for accommodations that may change the construct being measured by the assessment (e.g., reading of the reading assessment through text-to-speech or oral script and using a calculator on the non-calculator section of the test). Completed 2018-19 UAR forms, together with the appropriate supporting data, are submitted to the CDE Assessment Unit by district staff. UARs must be approved by CDE before the unique accommodation can be assigned and provided to a student.
For more information on assessments, contact Joyce Zurkowski, chief assessment officer, 303-866-6929 or zurkowski_j@cde.state.co.us, or visit the Assessment homepage.
October
- 26: 2018-19 Federal Application Narrative Amendment No. 1 is due.
- 29: 2018-19 Budget Revision No. 1 Window
November
- 1: SPED December Count Student and Staff Snapshot open
- 9: 2018-19 Budget Revision No. 1 submission deadline
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