STAR Autism Presents: Making Inclusion Powerful

Transform educational outcomes through evidence-based inclusionary practices with STAR and Links!

Research shows that inclusion dramatically improves academic achievement, social skills, communication, and post-secondary success for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The STAR Program (preschool/elementary) and Links Curriculum (middle/secondary) provide comprehensive tools and evidence-based strategies for pre-teaching skills, implementing self-management supports, and creating meaningful, inclusive opportunities that work.

These programs embed opportunities for teaching and generalizing skills across settings and activities, ensuring students receive valid interventions that promote positive outcomes in general education environments.

Date: December 13, 2024
Time:  3:30 pm-5:00 pm Arizona Time (UTC-7)

Zoom Registration https://starautismsupport.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtd-upqTMuHdfGTi7F-vjyV28k8AZzi60L

Date: January 24, 2025
Time: 3:30 pm-5:00 pm Arizona Time (UTC-7)

Zoom Registration: https://starautismsupport.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtdeqsqj8rG9N09gEjhQ8VVCDn2Byk5ihT

You may find the flyer here.

STAR Autism Micro-Learning Modules: Targeted self-paced learning opportunities designed to support educators.  

The goal is to provide actionable strategies in manageable segments, helping teachers integrate curriculum elements seamlessly into their daily routines. These self-paced virtual bite-sized lessons, taking less than 10 minutes, are shared monthly to reinforce critical concepts and teach school staff how to use STAR Program online content effectively.

Each micro-learning focuses on important curriculum components such as evidence-based practices and the resources available FREE through the STAR Program.

Module #1: Getting Started with Themes First

Module #2: Small Groups

COMING SOON:

Module #3: Circle Routine

Module #4: Behavior Supports

The ADE/ESS Academic Achievement and Inclusive Practices unit is pleased to announce professional learning opportunities for traumatic brain injury (TBI) featuring Dr. Sue Wolf from Empowerment Research for the 2024-2025 school year. 

TBI 101: An Invisible Disability
Saturday, December 14, 2024
8:00 am-12:30 pm

TBI 101 is the first virtual workshop in the series that includes basic information on acquired brain injuries, including types, incidence, prevalence, and leading causes. Based on understanding brain-behavior relationships, participants will review signs and symptoms of brain injury through a student scenario and discuss impacts in the classroom and community. Additional sessions will be announced through the 2024-2025 school year.

TBI 303: Contemporary Issues-Executive Function
Wednesday, December 4 and 11, 2024
3:00 pm-5:00 pm 

TBI 303 is an interactive session that will delve into the critical role of executive functioning in academic and professional success. Dr. Wolf will explore the profound impact of early injury on executive function development and provide valuable insights into:

• Assessment Strategies
• Implications for College and Career Readiness
• Strategies for Success

Who should attend:  Parents and caregivers, counselors, general education teachers, special education teachers, related service personnel, administrators, support staff, behavioral health professionals, community-based professionals, or anyone who works with youth and young adults in the educational setting.

Register through Zoom
TBI 101
TBI 303

If you have questions, please get in touch with  Christy Hegebush.

Exceptional Student Services (ESS) has revised how federal primary need indicator reporting works in AzEDS to align with federal guidance on special education data disability reporting. Please read the attached memo for details and contact ESS Data Management if you have any questions.

Data Management Alert 
Enhancements to Integrity Rules -40055 and -40080 

Enhancements to integrity rules -40055 and -40080 have been implemented for SPED data validations in AzEDS. These updates are part of an ongoing effort to ensure clean data during the fiscal year and to avoid corrections of data after the close of the fiscal year. 

-40055 Invalid exit code combination; refer to the SPED Exit Validation Matrix 

This rule has been enhanced to allow concurrent reporting of the SPED14 exit code (No longer eligible for Preschool Special Education) and W6 withdrawal code (Age).  

The SPED Integrity Error Tool for this rule is linked below: 
SPED Integrity Error Tool -40055 

 -40080 SPED01 Exit Code allowed only when a student continues enrollment at the same site on the next in0session day, with no SPED LRE reported 

 Both the error message above and the error description for this integrity rule have been updated to reflect the site enrollment, and SPED LRE requirements must be met when using the SPED01 Exit Code.  

 The SPED Integrity Error Tool for this rule is linked below: 
SPED Integrity Error Tool -40080 

 One sheet of SPED Integrity Error Tools for all SPED integrity rules can be found on the ESS Data Management website. 

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 you can use to support your students.

Title:              JOT: Book Creator and Wakelet
Date:             Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Time:             11:30 AM-12:00 PM

Description:  Do you ever feel like you’re a content creator? No doubt you have students who need lessons presented in so many different formats: video, audio, ASL, high contrast, large print, highlighted text as you read, and more. Book Creator is a free tool that lets you easily create digital books that integrate all these UDL features! You’ll also learn how to integrate Book Creator and Wakelet to inspire student creativity (and your own) and enhance learning in the classroom. Learn how to combine the interactive storytelling and multimedia features of Book Creator with Wakelet’s curation platform to foster collaboration, personalize learning, and showcase student work.

Register for AT JOT: Book Creator and Wakelet

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

Special education leaders, 

Looking for a conference to support the professional learning of paraeducators who work with students with disabilities? 

The National Resource Center for Paraeducators, Related Service Providers, & Interveners (NRCP)  is hosting the 37th National NRCP Virtual Conference on February 21-23, 2025, with an optional Leadership meeting on February 20. This year’s theme is “Paraeducators: Where the Magic Happens!”, and the virtual conference will provide an opportunity for paraeducators, interveners, teachers, administrators, and related service providers (RSPs) to engage with experts, connect with colleagues, share resources, and participate in interactive discussions. 

The conference registration fee is $100 for paraeducators, interveners, education support professionals, family members, and guardians. The conference registration fee is $250 for teachers, administrators, and other educators and policymakers. 

Go to the conference webpage for more information and to register. 

For questions, email Laura Lema.  

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT 

October 1 Data Collection Phase II Trainings for FY 2025   

Annually, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is required to report special education (SPED) data to the federal government. The October 1 Data Collection (ODC) is part of that process and is required by all Public Education Agencies (PEAs). ODC has three phases:   

1. Child Count Verification and Personnel   

2. Child Count Reconciliation  

3. Child Count Non-Reconciliation (if applicable)   

During Phase II, PEAs must submit and reconcile student-level data for students with disabilities participating in a SPED program over the October 1 child count date through AzEDS. The primary goal of Phase II is to ensure that these students align with the verification count submitted during Phase I.   

ESS Data Management is excited to offer training opportunities to assist with Phase II, including an in-person workshop and a live webinar! Listed below is the schedule for the ODC Phase II training. Please note that registration is required. Click the link on the date that best fits your schedule to register.  

Online Training via Microsoft Teams
Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024, 
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am 

 In-person training Registration required through APLD
Location: 100 N 15th Ave. Phoenix AZ 85007 
Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am  

 Please email ESS Data Management with any questions. 

Are you looking for Speech-Language Pathologists or Speech-Language Pathology Assistants?

From December 5–7, 2024, ADE/ESS will staff a recruitment booth on behalf of all of Arizona’s public education agencies at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (AHSA) annual national convention in Seattle, WA. Over 20,000 SLPs and graduate students attend ASHA’s convention each year.

If your PEA would like ESS to promote your speech opening(s) at ASHA, please post them on the ADE job board as soon as possible. Our recruiting materials will direct candidates to speech positions posted on the Arizona Education Employment Board and information about becoming licensed and certified to practice in Arizona.

Post your vacancies today!

To attract candidates to your PEA, consider including information about:

• Caseload size/caseload caps
• Resources provided (subscriptions to SLP Toolkit, The Informed SLP, SLP Now, etc.)
• Paid licensure and certification fees
• Funds for professional development
• Highlights of your city/town/community
• Highlight alternative calendars (4-day week, year-round)

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

ADE/ESS is providing notice to the field of the updated Arizona State Board of Education (SBE) rule A.A.C. R7-2-401(G)(4)(A) that was approved and effective on October 21, 2024. This announcement includes a memo that provides background, next steps for public education agencies (PEAs), and the state education agency (SEA) responsibilities and implementation. The approved SBE rule is included for reference. Note: This version of the approved SBE rule has been provided to ADE/ESS by the SBE and has yet to be chaptered into the Arizona Administrative Code.

At the November 21, 2024, Professionals Check-In, ADE/ESS will review the revised rule and attached memo while providing answers to submitted questions, where possible. Questions can be submitted through the Survey Monkey link below for the upcoming Professionals Check-In. ADE/ESS is planning additional training opportunities to assist PEAs with ensuring the implementation of the approved SBE rule. 

Submit questions for the November Professionals Check-In.