DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT

FY23 ESS October 1 Parentally Placed Private School Students Training Webinar 

ESS Data Management will host a training webinar for the ESS October 1 Parentally Placed Private School Students on September 28, 2022, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am.

This webinar is intended for School Districts with geographic boundaries ONLY. (Charter schools are not responsible for private school count or required for proportionate share.)

Please join us to learn how to accurately count and report your students attending a private, non-profit elementary or secondary school (including homeschools) within your school district boundaries and how the counts are used to calculate your district’s proportionate share obligation. If you are unable to join a recording of this webinar with captions will be made available on our website when finalized.

Registration is required to attend: Register for the ESS October 1 Parentally Placed Private School Students Training Webinar.  

If you have any questions, please direct them to [email protected]. 

Special Education Directors,
 

Project EASEL, in partnership with ADE, would like to invite you to tune into the Exploring Strategies for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) fall and spring professional learning series. We plan to share a variety of information and strategies that will support your understanding and implementation of assertiveness, self-efficacy, and self-regulation. 

Details for the upcoming SEL session:

Middle School Students Can Self-Regulate: Strategies for Supporting Self-Regulation

September 20, 2022, 3:00–4:00 p.m.

Description: Do your students have difficulty turning in homework, focusing on academics during class, studying for tests, completing all aspects of projects, or managing their emotions?  Self-regulation instruction can help. Self-regulation instruction and practice can support students in completing tasks, reaching goals, and managing their emotional reactions. During this one-hour webinar, you will learn instructional activities that build and support self-regulation, including how to support students in developing detailed plans and help them to predict and plan for potential setbacks as they work toward accomplishing a task.

Registration is required for all Project EASEL sessions. Please register in advance for Strategies for Supporting Self-Regulation.

Please review this flyer for upcoming Project EASEL sessions with updated details. If you have any questions, please email Pattie Noonan.

Special Education Directors,

Please share the following literacy professional learning opportunities with general and special education teachers.

The following virtual sessions are being offered via Zoom and are free to attend. Click the session link to view the session description and to pre-register.

Creating Culturally, Linguistically, and Inclusive Math Spaces: Using Interactive Read-Alouds for Grades K–12 

Tuesday, September 13 from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Experience how to use the Interactive Read-Aloud strategy to introduce math topics, engage in high-interest problem-solving, and develop students’ reasoning.  

Establishing a Consistent, Organized, and Respectful Learning Environment through Classroom Libraries for Grades K–12

Tuesday, October 25 from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Engage in research, practices, and strategies to create an inclusive classroom library space where all students can self-select books they love, understand, and read fluently.

Putting the L in S.T.E.M. for Grades K–12

Tuesday, November 29 from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Focus on creating meaningful literacy and STEM connections! This session is appropriate for special and general education teachers.

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Special Education Directors,

ESS collects data each year through the Teacher Attrition Survey to make informed decisions about recruitment and retention efforts in Arizona. Participation in the survey is mandatory for all public education agencies in Arizona.

For the past few years, the survey has opened in February and closed in May of each fiscal year. This school year, the Teacher Attrition Survey will open on November 1, 2022, and close on January 31, 2023.

Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Teacher Attrition survey can be located online.

For additional questions regarding the Teacher Attrition Survey, please email the ESS Recruitment and Retention Inbox. 

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT       

Special Education Data Updates Webinar Wednesday, September 21st 

The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will be hosting the next Special Education Data Updates live webinar on Wednesday, September 21st from 2pm – 3pm. This session will cover a variety of data topics that will include (subject to change):   

• Reminders 
  • Recorded Sessions 
  • FY23 Updates Document 
  • Parentally Placed training (Districts only) 
• Trending topics 
  • New SPED Director/Data Manager Toolkit 
  • ODC Overview 
• Per Your Request 
  • Discipline Data current review 
  • Assessments 
  • Need Exit Codes and use of SPED09 
  • Preschool Outcomes Warning Errors and what they look at 
• Top 3 Integrity Errors 
  • -40079 
  • TBD 
  • TBD 
• Q&A    

Registration is required to attend: Register for Special Education Data Updates webinar.       

For questions, please contact ESS Data Management via email at [email protected].    

Special Education Administrators,

Special Education Learning Experiences for Competency in Teaching (SELECT) is a federally funded program sponsored by the Arizona Department of Education/Exceptional Student Services and is offered through the Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University. SELECT courses are recommended for special and general education teachers, administrators, related service personnel, paraeducators, and other interested individuals.

Certified school personnel can take SELECT classes for certificate renewal hours. SELECT classes can be taken for university credit for those teachers or administrators who are required by their school districts to have official transcripts and for those who may need to transfer hours out of state (tuition and associated fees apply). The classes can also be taken for professional growth contact hours for free.

To continually improve the SELECT course offerings, please take the Needs Assessment Survey to provide information about where you work, what you do, and what training you think would be the most valuable to the professional growth of special education and general education personnel who work with students with disabilities. Please share this survey with your colleagues and staff.

For more information, please email the SELECT inbox.

Special Education Directors,

The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is excited to announce the start of the 2022–23 National Presenter Series with Penny Reed, PhD. This workshop is designed for special educators and related service providers.

Assistive Technology Consideration and Assessment Made Easy

Date: September 20, 2022

Time: 8:00 a.m.−3:30 p.m.

Fee: $19 (working lunch, lunch will be provided)

Where: Pendergast Community Center

Address: 10550 W Mariposa St, Phoenix, AZ 85037

About Penny Reed

Penny Reed, PhD, is an independent consultant in AT services and provides training on various topics related to AT with a special focus on improving the delivery of AT services. Dr. Reed has a BS in elementary education, an MS and PhD in special education, and certification as both a principal and special education administrator. She was the director of the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) for many years and serves on the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) Leadership Team. She is a founding member of the QIAT Consortium, the National Assistive Technology in Education Network, and the Coalition for Assistive Technology in Oregon. Dr. Reed has authored and co-authored numerous articles and manuals, including her most recent publication, Best Practices in Special Education: A Framework for Assistive Technology (2022), co-authored with Gayl Bowser.

Workshop Description:

Are you confused about your responsibility to provide assistive technology devices and services?

Are you frustrated with delays in obtaining AT assessments from sources outside your PEA or the cost of those assessments?

Are you looking for an efficient, effective way to determine a student's need for assistive technology? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this workshop is for you.

Assistive Technology Consideration and Assessment Made Easy

This activity-packed workshop will present a team-based model for completing AT consideration and assessment. It begins with a brief overview of the laws related to the provision of AT services in the schools, including AT Consideration and Assessment. Participants will examine and discuss AT Consideration forms to determine what works for them. Then, an AT Assessment process will be explained. Specific, easy-to-follow forms will be provided. Participants will use the forms for guided practice in completing the AT Assessment process. The training will end with pointers for implementation planning. It is most beneficial if participants can attend as a team.

If you have questions regarding this training, please email the AT Inbox.

Register for Assistive Technology Consideration and Assessment Made Easy.

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT     

New AzEDS SPED Integrity Rule -40079 for FY23

A new Integrity Rule -40079 will be introduced into the integrity process on FY23 SPED data shortly. This update is a continuation of our effort to ensure clean data for the state. A new one-sheet Integrity Tool is available on our AzEDS SPED Reporting webpage for troubleshooting tips, and the rule has been added to our SPED Integrity Rules Reference document and the FY23 ESS Data Reporting Updates document.

Integrity Rule -40079

This rule will validate the reported Resident School ID is a site of the District of Residence (DOR).

Except in cases if the student is attending a Union or High School District and the DOR is an Elementary District without a High School, then the Resident School ID should be a site within the District of Attendance.

Expected Resident School IDs have been outlined in rule -40077 introduced in FY22 if the student is attending:

• Private Day School - the public school site where the student would be enrolled and attending if not placed in the private day school.
• Voucher - the public school site where the student would be enrolled and attending if not placed in the residential treatment center or a state institution.
• Public Education Agency Placement (PEA) - the public school site where the student would be enrolled and attending if not placed in another PEA.
• Head Start Programs - the public school site where the student would be enrolled and attending if not placed in the Head Start program.
• Public School - defaults to the public school site where the student is currently enrolled & attending.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions regarding this new rule.

Special Education Directors,

Please share the following math professional learning opportunities with general and special education teachers who teach mathematics.

The following virtual sessions are being offered via Zoom and are free to attend.  Click the session link to view the session description and to pre-register.

Take a D.I.P. (Daily Inclusive Practices) into Desmos’ Polygraphs for Grades 4–12 

Wednesday, August 31 from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Creating Culturally Linguistic and Inclusive Math Spaces: Using Interactive Read-Alouds for Grades K–12 

Tuesday, September 13 from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Take a D.I.P. into Splat! for Grades K–6 

Wednesday, September 21st from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Take a D.I.P. into Desmos’ Marbleslides for Grades 7–12 

Wednesday, October 26th from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Putting the L in S.T.E.M. for Grades K–12 

Tuesday, November 29 from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Take a D.I.P. into Three-Act Tasks for Grades K–5 

Wednesday, November 30th from 4:00–5:00 p.m. 

Take a D.I.P. into Three-Act Tasks for Grades 6–12 

Thursday, December 1st from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Introduction to Fluency with Whole Numbers (Grades K–6)

Wednesday, December 14th from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Please email Jenifer Fernandez or email Rob Hilliker with any questions.

Special Education Directors,

 In collaboration with the Paraprofessional Resource & Research Center and the CEEDAR Center, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has developed Effective and High-Leverage Practices for Paraeducators, a free, on-demand, eLearning program for paraeducators.

 Paraeducator participants engage with interactive learning activities, watch videos, and explore resources to support their effective implementation of the high-leverage practices in special education. Participants have access to the program for one full year from the date of their registration through June 1, 2024. PD certificates are available for each phase or the entire completed program. Membership in CEC is not required for program participation.

 Visit the CEC website for more information and to register for the eLearning program.

 Also, be sure to check out the Core Competencies for Special Education Paraeducators, recently updated paraeducator competencies released by CEC based on the four areas of the high-leverage practices in special education.