Exceptional Student Services
The Special Education Data Dashboard (SEDD) is designed to be a one-stop shop for public education agencies (PEAs) to securely view their unique education data and public statewide data with redaction. PEAs will also use the SEDD application to certify end-of-year data, which includes students who have exited special education during the reporting year and/or were subject to any disciplinary action.
Under Section 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004), State Education Agencies are required to make a determination for all Public Education Agencies (PEAs) on the PEA’s performance in the implementation of special education. Each PEA’s federal fiscal year (FFY) 2023 determination is now available for review through ADE Connect and posted on the website.
Please visit Arizona's PEA Determinations Website for information on the notification letter, scoring criteria, and public results.
For questions regarding PEA Determinations, please email the ESS Operations Inbox.
Are you concerned about the current rate of suspensions and expulsions at your school or district? Do you feel students are losing valuable class time due to disruptions and other behavior problems? Are teachers struggling to be successful with classroom management? Are administrators spending too much time dealing with discipline issues? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you might find the solution in Multi-Tier Behavior Supports.
Multi-Tier Behavior Supports (MTBS) is a three-year training series that will assist district, charter, or school teams in developing a school-wide approach to positive behavior management practices. This training is based on School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (SW-PBIS) evidence-based elements. The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) notes that “the IEP team shall, in the case of a child whose behavior impedes the child’s learning or that of others, consider the use of positive behavioral interventions and supports, and other strategies, to address that behavior” (20 U.S.C. §1414(d)(3)(B)(i)).
Year 1 training sessions will be held on September 8–9, 2025, December 1–2, 2025, and February 9–10, 2026. The cost is $100 per team member for the Year 1 training. Costs for participation in Years 2 and 3 of the training may be reimbursed with funding by ADE/ESS if certain requirements are met.
Several open spots remain for teams to register for the 2025–2026 MTBS cohort. If you would like to learn more or start the application process, please contact Celeste Nameth.
There was an error in our recent automated email notifications regarding the certification process for the Special Education Data Dashboard (SEDD) application. The emails incorrectly stated that the certification period is currently open. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and appreciate your understanding. Rest assured, you will receive a notification when the application officially opens on May 7, 2025, and again when the certification window opens on July 23, 2025.
Continue reading for important information regarding the Special Education Data Dashboard application and its processes.
The Special Education Data Dashboard (SEDD) is scheduled to open on May 7, 2025. SEDD is a comprehensive platform for Public Education Agencies (PEAs) to securely access federally mandated special education and statewide public data with redaction features. Through this application, PEAs enter, review, and certify special education data required under Section 618 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The roles below can access the SEDD application and can only be assigned by the local ADEConnect Entity Administrator within the PEA. Only one role should be assigned per user, and it should be applied at the parent entity (district) level:
Even if a PEA did not provide services to any special education students throughout the school year, the PEA is still required to review this data during the review period and certify this information during data certification.
We are conducting a training session via Microsoft Teams to help PEAs meet these reporting requirements. If you cannot attend this event, a video of the webinar will be made available later.
Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Register for the online training.
Office hours will be available to assist PEAs with questions in troubleshooting their data. We aim to begin office hours starting Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Additional information regarding office hour registration will be provided during the SEDD webinar and published to the SEDD website when available.
We hope to see you during the SEDD webinar!
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the ESS Data Management inbox or call us at 602-542-3962.
ADE/ESS is excited to announce two fantastic opportunities at the 2025 IDEA Conference: Access Cultivates Opportunities, happening August 20–22, 2025, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona.
Recognize outstanding contributions to secondary transition services across Arizona. Learn more and nominate a youth/young adult, community member, or educator for their exceptional efforts by submitting an online nomination form.
Nomination Categories:
Submit your nominations by Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Award winners will be notified in July.
Showcase student talent at the IDEA Conference! If you know a student artist interested in displaying his or her artwork, please view the Call for Student Artwork flyer linked below for more details. Please complete the 2025 Student Artwork Entry form before Tuesday, May 27, 2025, to have artwork considered for display.
Please email the IDEA Conference inbox for questions about nominations or student artwork submissions.
Download our flyers for more information on the Secondary Transition Services Awards and Call for Student Artwork.
FY26 Statement of Assurances Open for Submission
The FY26 Statement of Assurances application is open for submission. All public education agencies (PEAs) must submit the IDEA Statement of Assurances (SOA) through the ESS Portal within ADEConnect. This is required before any FY26 activities in the Exceptional Student Services portal are allowable. The portal will block any PEA that has not completed the SOA effective July 1, 2025, which is when FY26 begins.
The application is now open for submission and closes on June 11, 2025.
The SOA must be submitted by the Superintendent, Charter Holder, or Special Education Director of your PEA before FY26 IDEA funding applications are approved in the Grants Management Enterprise system.
Please direct any questions to [email protected].
Special Education Data Updates Webinar: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will host the next live Special Education Data Updates webinar on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. This session will cover a variety of data topics that will include:
Please register by clicking this link. Registration is required to attend. If you have any questions, please email the ESS Data Management inbox.
Special Education Professionals,
MEMO Special Education ED-P Programs FY26 Update
Please see the attached memo that provides an update on the Emotional Disabilities Public (ED-P) programs.
For any questions, please contact the ESS Private Day/EDP inbox.
Are you interested in learning more about the recent Arizona State Board of Education (SBE) rule change that affects secondary transition services?
ADE/ESS has launched a new webpage that provides essential information and resources about this rule change. The webpage can be accessed through the following link to access background information, the next steps for public education agencies (PEAs), and the November 2024 Special Education Professionals Check-In presentation.
We also invite you to register for and attend the in-person training hosted by the ADE/ESS Program Support & Monitoring unit and the Secondary Transition Teams. This training will cover the new Arizona State Board of Education Rule Change for Secondary Transition Services.
Download the training flyer to share this opportunity.