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April 2020
 

The latest news from ESSU

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

Changes to reporting of initial IEP process 
Some of the delay codes in SY2019-20 Special Education End of Year Data Collection will be modified to accommodate IEP process delays due to COVID19-related school closures. Please see this memo for more details. For questions and additional guidance, please contact Orla Bolger or Lindsey Heitman.

AU Determinations 2020
AU determinations 2020 will be released on Wednesday, April 15. Please visit the Data Management System Profile Tab for the determination letter and the rubrics. The 2020 determinations are made based on AUs’ levels of compliance and results during SY2018-19. All AUs’ determinations will be posted online on Wednesday, April 22.  If you have questions after examining your AU determination, please contact Miki Imura by Monday, April 20.

Guidance on hearing and vision screening during COVID-19
Guidance on hearing and vision screening during COVID-19 for children served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Parts C and B, has been posted on the Office of Special Education website. The document can be found under the section on Polices and Flexibilities. The guidance document details appropriate next steps for when in-person hearing and vision screenings cannot be conducted.

Access, Learning, and Literacy (ALL Team) Office Hours
During this time of remote instruction, the ALL Team has been fielding many phone calls and emails with questions about how to best support the accessibility, behavior, learning, social-emotional, and transition needs of learners with disabilities. The following consultants are offering office hours to assist the field in their questions:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Office Hours - Brooke Carson will offer ASD office hours on Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., beginning Friday, April 17, through May 29. To connect with Brooke, join her Zoom meeting with meeting ID 525 596 699, and password 507301. You can also connect with Brooke via email at carson_b@cde.state.co.us.
  • Deaf/Hard of Hearing Office Hours - Shauna Moden will offer deaf/hard of hearing office hours on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. To connect with Shauna, pre-register at the registration link. You can also preview a schedule of topics, and/or view past Zoom collaborations. You can also connect with Shauna via email at moden_s@cde.state.co.us
  • Blind/Visually Impaired and Deaf-Blind Office Hours - Tanni Anthony will offer blind/visually impaired office hours on Wednesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. To connect with Tanni, join her Zoom meeting. You can also connect with Tanni via email at Anthony_t@cde.state.co.us
  • Secondary Transition Office Hours - Gail Lott will offer secondary transition office hours on Thursday from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, beginning Thursday, April 16, through May 28. To connect with Gail, join her Zoom meeting. You can also connect with Gail via email at lott_g@cde.state.co.us.  
  • Significant Support Needs Office Hours - Gina Herrera will offer significant support needs office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. To connect with Gina, send her an email at herrera_g@cde.state.co.us
  • SED/Affective Needs Office Hours - Bill Brown will offer office hours in the areas of severe emotional disability, affective needs, social emotional learning, and behavior on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. To connect with Bill, join his Zoom meeting with meeting ID 175 390 625. You can also connect with Bill via email at brown_w@cde.state.co.us.

Training and Professional Development

Professional development opportunities
CDE has created a webpage of professional development offerings, which include opportunities specifically from ESSU.


Join BrainSTEPS CO!

Increase your Administrative Unit's capacity to meet the needs of students and join the many other BrainSTEPS Teams around the state. BrainSTEPS CO - Brain Injury Consulting Teams serve over 70% of all students in our state! BrainSTEPS teams assist students with all severities of brain injuries (including concussion) in their district/BOCES and benefit everyone, once the district team understands the brain better – they have a better understanding of the needs of ALL learners.

This is a collaborative project between the ESSU and the Health & Wellness Unit thus, initial training, materials, and ongoing training, consultation, and support will be provided at NO COST to districts.

 Go to this webpage for more information and to download the application – (due in September) or contact Heather Hotchkiss, principal brain injury specialist – hotchkiss_h@cde.state.co.us

 


Deadlines

 

MAY

  • 18 - 2020-21 Federal Application Narrative for new three-year cycle window open through June 12.
  • 25 - 2020-21  Federal Application Budget Window open through June 26.

OSEP Monthly Update

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