DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT    

Special Education Data Updates Webinar: Wednesday, March 19, 2025  

The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will host the next live Special Education Data Updates webinar on Wednesday, March 19, 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.  

Do your students doubt their abilities when they experience challenges? Do they understand how to put forth effort and make progress toward their goals? Self-efficacy instruction can increase students’ belief in themselves and develop their ability to persist through learning challenges. 

The ADE/ESS, in collaboration with the University of Kansas Research Collaboration, is offering the College and Career Competencies Project, a free, one-year professional development series that includes:

• Free access to self-efficacy curricula at the primary, intermediate, and secondary levels with 25+ evidence-based instructional activities that teach 10 self-efficacy strategies.

• Virtual training across the school year to all staff, based on your professional learning calendar.
• Assessments to show student growth.
• Coaching support throughout the implementation process.

The Self-Efficacy curriculum, professional learning, and student progress measures are provided to all school staff across the school year. Training dates are established by each participating school.

The College and Career Competencies Project is accepting 7 more schools (elementary, middle, or high) for the 2025–2026 school year. Please note that funding for the project is contingent upon federal appropriations for the upcoming year.

To participate, have an administrator from your district complete the CCCs Project Interest Form, and schedule a 30-minute conference call about the project.

View our self-efficacy infographic, which includes the definition of self-efficacy and student impacts resulting from instruction.

For any questions, email Pattie Noonan.

The ADE/ESS Recruitment and Retention team is staffing a recruitment booth at the Council for Exceptional Children's (CEC) annual convention from March 11–15, 2025, as part of our recruiting efforts on behalf of all Arizona PEAs. Each year, CEC draws thousands of preservice special education students, teachers, and related service providers.  

  Our booth includes Arizona Department of Tourism brochures showcasing the diverse beauty of our state, materials pointing attendees to our job board, and, of course, the famous cactus pencils. 

  Following our attendance at national conventions, we typically see a dramatic uptick in Arizona Education Employment Board visitors. Please make sure that your special education positions are posted on our free job board as soon as possible to take advantage of this opportunity. 

 For additional information, please email the ESS Recruitment and Retention Inbox. 

There is still time to register for this spring’s virtual series on Universal Design for Learning.

The ADE/ESS Academic Achievement and Inclusive Practices unit invites educators to its upcoming free virtual professional learning series on Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This series is an excellent opportunity to deepen your understanding of UDL principles and how they can be applied to create more inclusive, accessible learning environments for all students. These virtual sessions will focus on providing practical strategies that can be implemented across classroom settings, supporting the success of all learners. We encourage your schools to take advantage of these no-cost virtual learning sessions to deepen knowledge and understanding and enhance instructional practices to ensure every student succeeds.

Don’t miss the next session on March 6, 2025. The registration links can be found in the attached flyer.

If you have any questions, contact Academic Achievement and Inclusive Practices at [email protected].

The ADE/ESS Program Support & Monitoring (PSM) unit and the Secondary Transition team are collaborating to provide training in response to the Arizona State Board Rule Change for Secondary Transition Services. Join this in-person-only Professional Development opportunity to gain clarity on the rule change and how to apply effective practices for stronger transition plans.  

Attendees will receive an overview of transition planning requirements, implications for the 2024 Arizona State Board of Education rule changes, and effective practices. These trainings are geared towards school administrators, teachers, and other staff integral to transition planning and service delivery.

Please choose one of the following dates/times at your convenience, as it will not be recorded, and each session covers the same content. 

Title: Getting Ahead to Go Beyond: Secondary Transition Changes and Considerations 
Dates: Wednesday, April 2, and Thursday, April 3, 2025 
Times: 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 12:30–3:00 p.m. (select one) 
Where: ADE South Campus 
Address: 1535 W Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85007 

Title: Getting Ahead to Go Beyond: Secondary Transition Changes and Considerations 
Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 
Times: 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 12:30–3:00 p.m. (select one) 
Where: State of Arizona Complex  
Address: 400 W Congress, Tucson, AZ 85701 

Space is limited! Please register now for Getting Ahead to Go Beyond: Secondary Transition Changes and Considerations.

If you have questions about this training, please email Veronica Reza.  

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 with the development of a school-wide approach for 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)). 

Several free informational webinars are being offered to outline additional details about the MTBS model, the three-year training sequence, the readiness requirements, and the process for applying.  Attendance at one of the informational webinars is the first readiness requirement necessary for participation in the training series.

If you are interested in learning more and/or starting the readiness process, review the attached flyer and register to attend one of the following free webinars:

Register for February 19 from 9:00–10:00 a.m.

Register for February 19 from 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Register for February 25 from 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Register for February 25 from 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Directions for applying for the training series will be provided during the webinar. Registration is limited to ten teams and only one team from each district. Applications earning the highest scores in the evaluation process will be approved until all seats are filled. Completed applications must be submitted by April 2 at 5:00 p.m.

The special education director is required to attend the readiness webinar for a PEA/district team. The principal is required to attend the readiness webinar for a school team.

Please see the MTBS 2025 flyer for additional information. If you have questions, please contact Celeste Nameth.

In partnership with ADE/ESS, the College and Career Competencies (CCCs) Project invites you to tune into a Spring 2025 professional learning opportunity for educational leaders and educators, Developing and Improving Students’ Persistence and Confidence Through Self-Efficacy.

Students who don’t have confidence in their abilities give up easily when they experience obstacles. They struggle to understand the connection between putting forth effort and making progress. Self-efficacy is an individual’s perception of their ability to complete challenging tasks. Students with strong self-efficacy understand that learning new things is a process that includes multiple attempts, analyzing each attempt, and applying feedback to improve. They view mistakes and setbacks as opportunities to learn and utilize calming techniques when learning becomes challenging. Educators who support students in developing self-efficacy observed increased confidence and the ability to view mistakes as learning opportunities in their students. Academic and behavioral outcomes are improved when educators are supported in developing students’ self-efficacy.

For K-12 Educational Leaders
Title: Improving Students’ Persistence and Confidence Through Self-EfficacyTarget
Audience: School and district administrators, special education directors, curriculum directors, directors of teaching and learning, professional development coordinators, and other school administrators.
Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Time: 9:00–9:45 a.m.

Please join us for this interactive 45-minute webinar as we explore these topics: 

• Accessing free professional learning for your staff
• Teaching self-efficacy with free curriculum
• Systematic approaches to implementing self-efficacy instruction
• Coaching educators as they provide self-efficacy instruction

Register for Improving Students’ Persistence and Confidence Through Self-Efficacy.

For K-12 Special Educators and Interventionists

Title: Developing Students’ Persistence and Confidence Through Self-Efficacy
Target Audience: Special educators, school counselors, social workers, related services providers, instructional coaches, and interventionists
Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025
Time: 3:00–3:45 p.m.

Please join us for this interactive 45-minute webinar as we explore these topics: 

• Teaching self-efficacy with free curriculum
• Measuring students’ self-efficacy
• Individualized support for developing students’ self-efficacy
• Accessing free self-efficacy courses for special education professionals

Register for Developing Students’ Persistence and Confidence Through Self-Efficacy.

For more information, see www.cccframework.org.

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT    

Special Education Data Updates Webinar: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 

The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will host the next live Special Education Data Updates webinar on Wednesday, February 19, 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.