Leadership in Action: Expanding Access, Cultivating Opportunity
We’re excited to invite you to an exclusive, invite-only event designed for Arizona’s special education leaders: the 2025 IDEA Director’s Preconference. This is your opportunity to collaborate, learn, and lead alongside peers who are shaping the future of special education across the state.

Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Location: JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa 5350 E Marriott Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85054
Time: 12:00 PM – 5:15 PM

Price: $100 (General conference registration not included)

What to Expect:

• Engaging Panels & Campfire Talks on FAPE, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), staffing shortages, supporting students with complex needs, and more
• A Premier Legal Speaker offering insights on federal compliance and its impact on state and local teams
• An Interactive Networking Reception to connect, collaborate, and build lasting relationships
• Opportunities for reflection and real-world problem-solving

Preconference Schedule:

• 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Registration
• 1:00 – 2:30 PM | Concurrent Session 1
• 2:45 – 4:15 PM | Concurrent Session 2
• 4:15 – 5:15 PM | Networking Reception

Each concurrent session will be offered twice to allow attendees to participate in both options.

Who Should Apply?

This event is designed for professionals in special education leadership roles at the district or charter level, including:

• Directors, Managers, and Leads of special education programs
• Specialists and Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSAs) supporting special education services
• Site-based leaders in administrative or leadership roles (formal title not required)

Guidelines and Requirements:

• Each Public Education Agency (PEA) may register up to two eligible leaders (Capacity is capped, and final participation decisions will be made by ADE)
• Priority is given to school-employed, site-based staff
• Additional names and on-site-based staff will be placed on a waitlist, and if space allows, they will be invited to register.

Ready to Lead? Apply for Arizona’s 2025 IDEA Director’s Preconference

Please email the IDEA Conference inbox if you have any questions.

Let’s come together to expand access and cultivate opportunity for every student in Arizona. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please see the following public participation information for an ADE/ESS proposal to change the Significant Disproportionality calculation cell size, available on the ADE/ESS webpage.

Public Participation for Significant Disproportionality Calculation Cell Size Change Proposal

As part of the public participation process set forth in the IDEA Part B regulations at 34 CFR § 300.165 and in section 441(b)(7) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) ((20 U.S.C. 1232d(b)(7)), prior to the adoption of amendments to policies and procedures required to comply with Part B of the Act, the State must ensure that there are public postings, hearings, and 30-day public comment period. The public posting period will be between June 17, 2025, and August 16, 2025. The public comment period will be between June 17, 2025, and July 27, 2025. Following the conclusion of the public participation period, ADE/ESS will evaluate the feedback received.

Notice of Public Hearings

The ADE will hold two public hearings, one geared primarily toward education professionals and a second for parents and family members of children with disabilities. Any individual or organization may register and attend either public hearing opportunity. Select an option below to join the event via Zoom.

Professionals

Thursday, June 19, 2025: Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The public hearing will take place during the June Professional Check-In. Register in advance for the professionals' meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Parents and Family Members

Thursday, July 17, 2025: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Register in advance for the parents' and family members' meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Notice of Public Comment Period

The public comment period for the proposed Significant Disproportionality Calculation Cell Size Change will be open between June 17, 2025, and July 27, 2025. Any individual or organization may submit written comments. The State will review and consider all comments after the public participation period.

Special education stakeholders may submit comments in writing using the following methods:

• Submit electronically via the ADE/ESS Public Comment webpage
• Submit electronically to Exceptional Student Services via email
• Submit handwritten comments directly to Exceptional Student Services via the USPS to Arizona Department of Education, 1535 West Jefferson St. Bin #24, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

Please see the following public participation information for proposed ADE/ESS Special Education Dispute Resolution Policies and Procedures, available on the main ADE/ESS webpage.

Public Participation for Proposed Special Education Dispute Resolution Policies and Procedures

As part of the public participation process set forth in the IDEA Part B regulations at 34 CFR § 300.165 and in section 441(b)(7) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) ((20 U.S.C. 1232d(b)(7)), prior to the adoption of amendments to policies and procedures required to comply with Part B of the Act, the State must ensure that there are public postings, hearings, and 30-day public comment period. The public posting period will be between June 17, 2025, and August 16, 2025. The public comment period will be between June 17, 2025, and July 27, 2025. Following the conclusion of the public participation period, ADE/ESS will evaluate the feedback received.

Notice of Public Hearings

The ADE will hold two public hearings, one geared primarily toward education professionals and a second for parents and family members of children with disabilities. Any individual or organization may register and attend either public hearing opportunity. Select an option below to join the event via Zoom.

Professionals

Thursday, June 19, 2025: Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The public hearing will take place during the June Professional Check-In. Register in advance for the professionals' meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Parents and Family Members

Thursday, July 17, 2025: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Register in advance for the parents' and family members' meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Notice of Public Comment Period

The public comment period for the proposed Special Education Dispute Resolution Policies and Procedures will be open between June 17, 2025, and July 27, 2025. Any individual or organization may submit written comments. The State will review and consider all comments after the public participation period.

Special education stakeholders may submit comments in writing using the following methods:

• Submit electronically via the ADE/ESS Public Comment webpage
• Submit electronically to Exceptional Student Services via email
• Submit handwritten comments directly to Exceptional Student Services via the USPS to Arizona Department of Education, 1535 West Jefferson St. Bin #24, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

ESS/Program Support & Monitoring is pleased to announce the release of the SY 2025–2026 Programmatic Monitoring Guide Steps. Attached is the release memo that indicates some of the recent updates.

The Guide Steps is a technical assistance document created to aid public education agencies (PEAs) in understanding the requirements specific to programmatic monitoring. Legal compliance may be more extensive as it relates to a state complaint or due process. Any examples should not be taken directly and added to a student’s IEP or evaluation because each student is unique and has his/her own set of circumstances that must be addressed through his/her individual evaluation and IEP.

We hope these Guide Steps assist PEAs in reviewing student documentation for compliance purposes and in reviewing systemic, programmatic needs within the PEA. Questions can be directed to your PEA’s Program Support & Monitoring Specialist.

The memo can be found here.

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT    

Special Education Data Updates Webinar: Wednesday, June 18, 2025  

The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will host the next live Special Education Data Updates webinar on Wednesday, June 18, 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.  

The United States Department of Education and the Office of Special Education Programs require that public education agencies (PEAs) submit discipline data to state education agencies for federal reporting into EDFacts. The Arizona Department of Education will now require expulsions involving students without disabilities to be reported in the discipline domain of Arizona Education Data Standards (AzEDS) beginning fiscal year (FY) 2026.

Please read the attached memo for details and contact ESS Data Management if you have any questions.