Welcome to Exceptional Student Services

Exceptional Student Services (ESS) ensures that public education agencies in Arizona have special education programs, policies, and procedures that comply with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its implementing regulations, and that eligible children and youth with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). ESS provides professional learning opportunities, provides technical assistance to schools, supports the needs of families of students with disabilities, monitors schools for compliance with the regulations that implement the IDEA, and administers the IDEA Entitlement grant.

Special Education Guidance for COVID-19

Components of Exceptional Student Services

About ESSUnderstanding Special EducationESS UpdatesParents and Families

 

Professional Learning & SustainabilityProgram Support & MonitoringEarly Childhood Special EducationSpecial ProjectsDispute Resolution

 

Data ManagementProgram ManagementVouchers

 

Page revised May 9, 2022

From the Exceptional Student Services Blog

INTERNAL PD INFO: Arizona’s 2023 IDEA Conference: Creating Connections and Strengthening Systems—Save the Date and Call for Papers Thu, Feb 2 2023 Updates

Special Education Stakeholders,

ADE/ESS is excited to share that Arizona’s 2023 IDEA Conference will be held in person from August 21–23, 2023, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix.

This year’s theme is Creating Connections and Strengthening Systems. This cross-stakeholder event is intended for special education administrative staff, youth and young adults with disabilities, family members and caregivers, state agency staff, educators, service providers, and community members committed to student success. The event will feature over 75 professional learning opportunities, including IDEA legal issues, instructional practices, national trends and hot topics, special education compliance, preschool and secondary transition, and content for related service providers.
DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT: Special Education Data Updates Webinar Wednesday, February 15th Thu, Jan 26 2023 Data Management, Updates

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT       

Special Education Data Updates Webinar Wednesday, February 15th 

   The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will host the next Special Education Data Updates live webinar on Wednesday, February 15th, from 2pm – 3pm. This session will cover a variety of data topics that will include (subject to change):   

  • Reminders 
  • Trending topics 
  • Top 3 Integrity Errors 
  • Q&A