The Arizona Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services (ADE/ESS), recognizes the uncertainty that recent federal reductions in force within the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs may bring to education leaders across the state. We want to acknowledge the concern these national changes may cause and provide reassurance and clarity regarding Arizona’s unwavering commitment to children and youth with disabilities.

There have been no changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or its implementing regulations. State Education and Public Education Agencies remain fully responsible for upholding all federal and state special education requirements. This includes ensuring every eligible child receives a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, conducting timely evaluations, safeguarding procedural rights, and maintaining all assurances tied to federal special education funding.

While administrative shifts may be occurring at the federal level, the rights of Arizona’s students with disabilities—and the responsibilities of our schools—remain firmly intact.

ADE/ESS is closely monitoring these developments and actively collaborating with the National Association of State Directors of Special Education and other national partners to stay informed and responsive. Our priority is to maintain timely updates, technical assistance, and support to ensure continuity and compliance during this time.

We deeply value the dedication of Arizona’s special education professionals—teachers, administrators, support staff, and service providers—who continue to serve our students and families with compassion, consistency, and excellence. Your work is vital to our shared mission: ensuring that every child with a disability in Arizona can access the services and supports they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

If you have questions or need clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact our office. ADE/ESS will continue communicating updates as they become available and stands ready to support you.

The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is pleased to announce our second 2025-26 national presenter: “AAC Essentials: What Every Educator Needs to Know” with Rachel Madel M.A., CCC-SLP. This presentation is intended for SLPs, special education teachers, and related service providers who work with students who use Augmentative/Alternative Communication (AAC).

Date/Time:                    Friday, November 14, 2025 - 8:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.
Fee:                                  Free  (Lunch on your own) Limited availability, Please, only register if you are committed to attending.
Where:                            ADE South Campus Conference Room
                                            1535 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85007

Rachel Madel, M.A., CCC-SLP, is an LA-based speech-language pathologist dedicated to coaching parents and professionals on incorporating technology to best support speech and language development. Rachel presents nationally and abroad on the use of AAC and coaches parents, clinicians, and teachers on integrating assistive technology in classrooms and at home to support communication. She co-hosts a weekly podcast called “Talking With Tech” and creates educational resources, therapy materials, and courses to help support parents and professionals.

Course Description: 

This interactive learning experience explores innovative approaches to facilitate language acquisition in students of all ages. By creating enriched environments, all learners have ample opportunities to engage in meaningful language practice within their everyday routines. Participants will gain insights into current best practices for AAC principles, including supporting language learning, selecting appropriate vocabulary, and fostering engagement among AAC users. Additionally, the presentation will cover advanced-level topics, such as strategies to overcome barriers in AAC (both assessment and implementation). Through the integration of interactive technologies, educators can design educational experiences that empower both learners and their support networks to achieve lifelong language goals. The session will also focus on building the skills of communication partners and demonstrate how coaching-centered training can empower educators to promote AAC system usage consistently throughout the day and in various environments.

Register for “AAC Essentials: What Every Educator Needs to Know”

If you have questions, please email [email protected].  

The National Resource Center for Paraeducators (NRCP) and the Center for Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education (TAESE), in partnership with the ADE/ESS, are offering monthly, low-cost professional learning webinars for paraeducators, related service providers (RSPs), teachers, administrators, and other educators.

 Join the NRCP on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for exciting topics and presenters, including the following:

 Oct 11, 2025—Differentiation in Action

• Nov 8, 2025—Accommodations & Modifications
• Dec 13, 2025—Behavior Management
• Jan 10, 2026— Artificial Intelligence 101
• Feb 7, 2026—Paraeducator Career Growth
• Mar 14, 2026—Empowering Independence: Supports for Low Incidence Disabilities
• Apr 11, 2026—Paraeducator Roles & Responsibilities
• May 9, 2026—Visual Supports for Communication
• Jun 13, 2026—The Trauma-Responsive Paraeducator
• Jul 11, 2026—Teamwork & Collaboration in Schools

 Teacher and paraeducator teams are encouraged to sign up together. The $100 registration fee per person includes 12 live webinars and extended access to the recordings until August 2026. There is a limited number of seats at this discounted price, so register now to save your spot!

 Register for Saturday Mornings with the NRCP!

 Please see the Saturday Mornings with the NRCP flyer for additional information about the professional learning series, and email Laura Lema with any questions.

Each year, ESS updates our contact lists of Lead Speech-Language Pathologists, Lead Occupational Therapists, Lead Physical Therapists, Lead School Psychologists, Assistive Technology Specialists, and Adaptive Physical Education Teachers. We use these contact lists to:

• Keep related service providers informed of relevant professional learning
• Facilitate opportunities for developing discipline-specific professional learning networks or communities of practice
• Develop a pool of expert, experienced, school-based practitioners we may call upon for such things as surveying the need for particular topics in professional learning and providing content expertise to inform or review guidelines and policies developed by ADE/ESS

Please complete this brief survey, even if your PEA has had no changes in personnel since last year or has no designated leads for related service providers.

If you have questions, please email the ESS Recruitment and Retention Inbox.

Registration Now Open: Interpreting, Mentoring, Education & Training (IMET) Online Courses
ADE/ESS is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the Interpreting, Mentoring, Education & Training (IMET) self-paced online courses offered by Utah State University. These courses are designed to support continuous professional learning for educational sign language interpreters and are now available for self-enrollment.

The IMET Program offers comprehensive online learning opportunities specifically designed for educational sign language interpreters. Upon successful course completion, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion and may also earn RID CEUs upon request. Courses are provided at no cost to participants.

We are excited to share that the newest course is ASL Depiction: An Introductory Guide. This is the first course in the catalog developed by one of our Arizona-based coaches and focuses on key features of ASL. A shorter, alternative version of the course is also available, allowing participants to earn credit for different units.
IMET Self-paced Online Course Catalog

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Academic Achievement & Inclusive Practices.  

Secondary Transition regional trainings are back! The ADE/ESS Program Support & Monitoring (PSM) unit and the Secondary Transition Team are partnering to offer in-person training on current secondary transition-related requirements and best practices. This professional development session will help you understand compliance and apply effective strategies to strengthen transition plans. 

Participants will gain insights into transition planning requirements, the impact of the 2024 Arizona State Board of Education rule change, and proven strategies for effective planning. This training is designed for school administrators, educators, and staff involved in transition services. 

Choose one session that fits your schedule. All sessions cover the same content and will not be recorded. 

Title: Getting Ahead to Go Beyond: Secondary Transition Changes and Considerations 

Dates: 

• Thursday, December 11, 2025 

• Wednesday, February 11, 2025 

• Thursday, February 12, 2025 

Times: 

• Morning Session: 9:00–11:30 a.m. 

• Afternoon Session: 12:30–3:00 p.m. 

Location: ADE South Campus 

Address: 1535 W Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85007 

Space is limited—secure your spot today! 

For questions, please contact Secondary Transition at [email protected]. 

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT   

FY 2026 October 1 Data Collection Application is now OPEN

The October 1 Data Collection (ODC) application is now open, and Phase I is underway. This phase includes the submission of your Public Education Agency (PEA) Special Education student count and personnel Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) data. 

The ODC child count is a crucial process consequential for federal reporting, determining federal allocations, and providing information for the state to make educational determinations over time.

All PEAs are required to verify the aggregate count of students receiving Special Education services over October 1, including zero counts. This is an internal count using your student information systems and student rosters; AzEDS reports should not be used to gather Phase I Verification Count.

This data is due Wednesday, November 5, 2025. More information and training is available on the ESS October 1 Data Collection website.

Please refer to the Important Dates Web Page on the ODC timeline for a complete outline of deadline requirements for this data collection.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is seeking input from educators, therapists, and school staff across the state to help shape future professional learning opportunities in assistive technology. 

We kindly ask that you share the following survey with teachers, therapists, and other relevant staff in your district. The survey is short (approximately 5-7 minutes), anonymous, and designed to ensure that upcoming training and resources are relevant, practical, and impactful. 

2025 Assistive Technology Needs Survey 

Please complete the survey only once. Your responses are confidential and will be used solely to inform statewide professional development efforts. The survey will close on October 31, 2025. 

Thank you for your support in helping us better serve Arizona’s educators and students through meaningful professional learning. 

 ADE/ESS AT Team

[email protected]

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT    

Special Education Data Updates Webinar: Wednesday, October 15, 2025 

The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will host the next live Special Education Data Updates webinar on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. This session will cover a variety of data topics that will include:    

• Reminders  

• Trending topics  

• Top Three Integrity Errors 

• Q&A     

Please register by clicking this link. Registration is required to attend. If you have any questions, please email the ESS Data Management inbox.  

Are you overwhelmed by professional development? Don’t have time for a 90-minute webinar? We got you! Join the ADE/ESS Assistive Technology Team for our fall series, Assistive Technology: Just One Thing (JOT). In these quick 30-minute sessions, we will highlight a single assistive technology tool or strategy that you can use to support your students.

Title: "Leveling the Equation: Free Math Tools for Inclusive Access" Featuring ModMath and Arithmetype

Presenter: Breeta Garland, M.S., CCC-SLP - Gilbert Public Schools, Assistive Technology Coach

Date:             Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Time:             11:30 AM-12:00 PM

Description: Discover two powerful and completely free assistive technology tools that support students with math-related learning needs. Breeta Garland, M.S., CCC-SLP will provide an overview of ModMath, a digital graph paper with keypad to solve math problems for students with dysgraphia, and Arithmetype, a math-friendly typing resource for those who struggle with written output. Learn how these tools remove barriers and empower students in her district to demonstrate their true math abilities. Perfect for educators, related service providers, and support staff looking for quick wins in inclusive math instruction.

Please note: This Zoom session will not be recorded. Live attendance is encouraged to benefit fully from the presentation and resources.

If you have questions regarding this professional development opportunity, please email [email protected].

Revised 1.23.2026