Special Education Directors,

The Alternate Assessment Advisory Committee has developed a new resource for ALL parents and families, A Parent Guide to Understanding Arizona’s Statewide Assessments. From a parent’s perspective, this is information that is necessary and helpful in understanding Statewide Assessments. The document has also been translated into Spanish.

Schools can:

• Post or link this resource on their Assessment webpage
• Share this document (either electronically or printed) with their families during Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings
• Include this document in presentations on Curriculum Nights or when Statewide Testing kicks off in Spring

The English version resource document and the Spanish version resource document are available, but are also available on the Assessment website.

For questions, please contact the Testing Inbox.

Special Education Directors,

The ADE/ESS Professional Learning and Sustainability unit is pleased to announce two “grow your own” opportunities for educators in Arizona public schools.

• The General Education Teacher to Special Education Teacher (GETSET) program provides tuition reimbursement to certified general education teachers who want to pursue a career change to become certified in an area of special education. 

• The Special Education Teacher Tuition Assistance (SETTA) program provides tuition reimbursement to paraprofessionals and educational interpreters that leads to special education teaching certification.

Certifications that satisfy the application requirements:

1. Mild/Moderate Disabilities, K–12
2. Moderate/Severe Disabilities, K–12
3. Early Childhood Special Education, Birth–Grade 3/Age 8
4. Hearing Impaired Special Education, Birth–Grade 12
5. Visually Impaired Special Education, Birth–Grade 12

 Application materials are below. PEAs have an opportunity to submit an application for one candidate per program. Applications earning the highest scores in the evaluation process will be approved until the funding that is set aside for the program is depleted. Applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 15, 2022.

• General Education Teacher to Special Education Teacher (GETSET) Application
• Special Education Teacher Tuition Assistance (SETTA) Application

Please note:

• Applicant must have been employed by the PEA for two full school years as of June 30, 2022.
• Applicant agrees to two full years of teaching in a special education capacity at the PEA once special education certification is achieved.
• Educational interpreters are eligible to apply for the SETTA program.
• GETSET and SETTA are tuition reimbursement programs. Potential expenses are pre-approved, and reimbursement is provided after each semester is completed and program requirements are met.

For additional information, please email the Recruitment and Retention Inbox.