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November 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. Click here to access a calendar of upcoming events, training sessions and other important dates.

In this email:

Recent News

COVID-19 information and resources, including compensatory services
Exceptional Student Services-specific information regarding compensatory services and other topics can be found on the Office of Special Education main page or on the Special Education Director’s Corner. Information and resources for schools also can be found on CDE’s main webpage. Please check this page often for updated information.

Encourage others to sign up for the ESSU Newsletter, Listserv
Encourage others to sign up for this newsletter by using the ESSU Newsletter sign-up link. People can sign up for the ESSU Listserv by going to the Directors' Corner and completing the Listserv form. We strongly encourage Special Education Fiscal Contacts to sign-up for the listserv.

Preschool Policy Development Community Input Sessions
Consider attending a preschool policy development community input session to gather feedback from stakeholders about the design of universal preschool in Colorado. Input gathered will inform policy makers as they work on the future design of publicly funded preschool, particularly opportunities for universal preschool for 4 year olds.

Specific input sessions for school district early childhood leaders are being offered. These sessions will be co-hosted by The Colorado Children’s Campaign and CDE. More information, dates and times, and registration links can be found on the Preschool Policy Development Community Input Sessions webpage.

Contact Rebecca Browning-Floyd, browning-floyd_r@cde.state.co.us, 303-880-3697 with questions.

Virtual Office Hours
During this time of remote instruction, the Office of Special Education has been fielding many phone and email questions regarding how best to support the accessibility, behavior, learning, social-emotional and transition needs of learners with disabilities. Virtual Office hours and sign up can be found on the COVID-19 and Special Education page by scrolling to the bottom. 

ELA Accommodation Policy Questions and Answers Resource
Answers to frequently asked questions about the updated ELA accommodation policy regarding the use of auditory or sign language presentation on the CMAS ELA assessment is available on CDE’s website

As a reminder, the CDE Assessment Division and ESSU will provide district assessment coordinators and special education directors with technical assistance on the updated policy, including transition strategies. The Standards and Instructional Support Unit is available to support understanding and interpretation of Colorado Academic Standards reading expectations. To review the updated CMAS ELA policy statement, please visit this webpage.

CDE contacts are included in the following:

  • 2020 CAS Reading, Writing and Communicating Support and Interpretation - Contact: Olivia Gillespie, literary content specialist, Standards and Instructional Support, gillespie_o@cde.state.co.us.
  • Instructional Accommodations and IEP Support - Veronica Fiedler, specific learning disability specialist, ESSU, fiedler_v@cde.state.co.us.
  • Instructional Accommodations and IEP Support - Shauna Moden, deaf education specialist, ESSU, moden_s@cde.state.co.us.
  • State Assessment Accommodations Support - Arti Sachdeva, students with disabilities assessment principal consultant, Assessment Division, sachdeva_a@cde.state.co.us

Training and Professional Development

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

2020-21 Educational Identification of Autism Virtual Training
This training is designed to support districts in understanding how to identify students suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), using evaluation tools to assess the triad of characteristics of ASD. Participants will learn how to build a body of evidence to support the identification of ASD determining eligibility in an educational setting without using the ADOS.

This distance learning opportunity will be presented over four days, in three-hour segments. More information on this training can be found on the Professional Learning (Autism Spectrum Disorder) webpage.

If you have questions regarding this training, please contact Brooke Carson carson_b@cde.state.co.us

Cognitive Behavior Intervention for Trauma in Schools Training
CDE is offering free virtual Cognitive Behavior Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) training for school teams with a minimum of two people. CBITS uses cognitive-behavioral techniques to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and behavioral problems; as well as improving functioning, grades and attendance, peer and parent support and coping skills. Several training dates are being offered in spring 2021, limited to 15 people per date. CBITS is an all-day virtual training, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with five hours of pre-homework that is required in order to participate. Visit the CDE School Psychology Services webpage for additional information and a registration link. Contact Londi Segler, Ph.D. NSCP, segler_l@cde.state.co.us,  or Krista Klabo, Ed.S NCSP, klabo_k@cde.state.co.us, if you have any questions.

Monthly SLD Community of Practice
The next Specific Learning Disability Covid-19 Community of Practice will be 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10. The purpose of this Community of Practice is to hold space for special education directors and designees to gather and share novel solutions to common challenges resulting from COVID-19.

This month we will focus on SLD evaluation in the context of distance learning. Please come with your questions and strategies and solutions to share with others.

To attend, click on this scheduled Zoom meeting. Meeting ID: 920 5960 9262 or call +1 346 248 7799. Fill out this short Google form if you are interested in participating. This Google form is just to gauge interest and get an idea of what folks want to address in these conversations. You do not have to fill it out to participate.

Notes with linked resources from our last meeting can be found here. For questions, contact Veronica Fielder at fiedler_v@cde.state.co.us or 303-945-5856.

Consultant Hosts Transition Talks
CDE's secondary transition consultant will host monthly transition talks on a variety of topics related to effective secondary transition planning from 3 to 4 p.m. via Zoom.  For additional information, use the Transition Talks webpage. If you have any questions regarding this process, contact Gail Lott at lott_g@cde.state.co.us

Provide Feedback for the Regional Meetings for Secondary Transition Personnel
What is going on in your region?  What topics are relevant to you?  What challenges are you facing?  How might your state transition team assist you?  Please follow the link provided to communicate your needs.  For additional information, please contact curtis_r@cde.state.co.us


Deadlines

NOVEMBER

  • 13 - Federal Application Narrative Amendment due
  • 16 - 2020-21 Budget Revision No. 1 Window opens

DECEMBER

  • 1 - December Count Date
  • 11 - 2020-21 Budget Revision No. 1 Submission due
 

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