Start the 2026-2027 school year with stronger family partnerships, clearer communication, and a peaceful IEP experience for everyone at the table!

ADE/ESS is here to help with professional development designed to support your staff, engage families, and bring more collaboration (and less stress!) to the IEP process. Each facilitated IEP training is offered at no cost, and is customized to your school or district’s needs, focused on communication and problem-solving.

Don’t delay!  Kick off the new school year with professional development that makes a real difference. Whether your goal is to strengthen relationships and trust, prevent conflict, improve your questioning techniques, or sharpen facilitation skills, we’ll tailor the training to meet your specific needs.

Click on the link to learn more about this professional development: Facilitated IEP | Arizona Department of Education

Let’s work together to create more positive, productive IEP environments for students, families, and staff.

For additional information you can reach out to Carrie McCulloch, Alternative Dispute Resolution Specialist, at (602) 542-7579 or [email protected]

Don’t miss this opportunity to sign up your new special education teachers for Teach Camp!

Teach Camp is a three-day, camp-themed professional learning experience packed with practical resources, strategies, and a strong campfire community of support so that new special education teachers not only survive but thrive as they begin their teaching journey. Teach Camp is available to special education teachers who will begin their first, second, or third year of teaching special education in one of Arizona’s public schools in the fall of 2026.  

Navigating the Journey: Camp Essentials 

• 3-day summer “camp” to be held July 7–9, 2026, at Rio Salado College Conference Center, 2323 W. 14th St., Tempe, AZ 85281 
• The cost per teacher is $195
• Each camper will receive: 
  • The Survival Guide for New Special Education Teachers (3rd edition) 
  • One-year membership to the Council for Exceptional Children 
  • Additional valuable resources to pack in their teaching backpack 

Trailblazing Together: What Teach Camp Alumni Are Saying! 

• “The resources and guidance provided have helped boost my confidence as I begin my journey as a special education teacher.” 
• “I’m hiking away with a full backpack of ideas and a happy teacher heart! Huge thanks to everyone who planned, presented, and made camp such an unforgettable experience. I’d sign up again in a heartbeat—just point me to the trailhead!” 
• “I loved the warm, welcoming environment, the rockstar presenters (aka our fearless trail guides), and meeting so many fellow campers who were eager to share their survival skills and teaching hacks. Teach Camp was s’more than I expected!” 

Ready for Your Teachers to Join the Adventure? 

Registration for Teach Camp is open on a first-come, first-served basis until Friday, June 19, 2026. Registration must be approved by the special education director and completed by the district or charter organization, not the special education teacher. Please note that there is a limit of ten registrations for each district or charter, after which participants will be placed on a waiting list. Travel reimbursement is available for eligible districts and charter organizations for up to five travelers per organization with additional travelers as funding allows. Reimbursement details are provided in the registration form. Please be aware that we may reduce the group size per district or charter organization to accommodate the attendance of more districts/charters and budget constraints for travel reimbursement. On-site registration is not available.  

Spots are limited—register your teachers for Teach Camp today! 

Please email the ESS Recruitment and Retention Inbox with any questions about Teach Camp. 

NEW INTEGRITY RULE: Integrity Rule -40105 

Effective April 21, 2026, a new special education (SPED) data integrity rule will be implemented to validate preschool outcomes assessment scores (COS) reported to AzEDS. Exit scores are currently being pre-emptively reported to AzEDS.  

Integrity Message for -40105: Preschool exit outcomes may not be entered until the last day of the student's program. 

This new integrity rule aims to ensure outcomes assessments are not being entered prematurely. Exit outcomes assessments that have been entered prior to the student’s last day of the reported LRE will cause this integrity rule to fail. Exit scores entered prior to the last day of the LRE will need to be removed and/or republished on or after the last day of the LRE. 

The SPED-Related Integrity Rules tool found on our AzEDS SPED Reporting page has been updated to provide troubleshooting guidance for this integrity rule. Please also refer to the Preschool Outcomes Reporting Guidance document for information about reporting Preschool Outcomes scores. 

We’re excited to invite you to an exclusive event designed for Arizona’s special education leaders: the 2026 IDEA Leadership Preconference. This is your opportunity to collaborate, learn, and lead alongside peers who are shaping the future of special education across the state. 

Date:  Monday, August 17, 2026
Location: Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort 7500 E Doubletree Ranch Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Time: 12:00 PM – 5:15 PM 
Price: Preconference-only registration is $150. A bundled registration option of $500 is available for attendees who wish to participate in both the preconference and the full IDEA Conference. Anyone interested in participating in the preconference—either as a single day experience or in addition to the full conference—should apply using the preconference application only.

What to Expect: 

• Engaging, interactive learning sessions featuring panels, tabletop discussions, and data-informed conversations focused on current trends and proactive district practices
• Dynamic networking opportunities with guided tabletop discussions designed to foster collaboration, share expertise, and build meaningful professional connections
• Structured moments for leadership reflection and practical problem solving, centered on real world challenges and actionable district level solutions

Preconference Schedule: 

• 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Registration and Lunch

• 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 2026 IDEA Director’s Preconference  

Need help with completing registration? Please email the IDEA Conference inbox or join the IDEA Conference Planning Committee during an upcoming office hour. Please register in advance for a virtual office hour time slot.

Let’s come together to reflect, network, and build stronger systems that impact outcomes for every student in Arizona. We look forward to seeing you there! 

We are thrilled to announce that professional registration is now open for Arizona’s 2026 IDEA Conference: Stronger Systems, Better Outcomes—for Every Student. This year’s conference will take place August 18–20, 2026, with preconference sessions on August 17, at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort. 

The registration fee for professionals is $425 per person. Payment may be made by MasterCard, Visa, or Discover, check, or purchase order. With procurement deadlines for PEAs approaching, we encourage you to register promptly—spots are expected to fill quickly. To ensure equal access, we may limit the number of attendees per district or charter organization to maximize participation.  

Registration process 

1. Submit a seat request for review by the IDEA Conference Committee. 

2. If your request is approved for payment, you will receive instructions to complete registration by submitting payment through the Arizona Professional Learning and Development System (APLD). Please note: payments submitted without an approved seat request will be canceled. 

3. If notified by email, submit the Arizona’s 2026 IDEA Conference Supplemental Form to complete registration. 

New this year: Each seat request must include an active ADE Professional Learning & Development (APLD) Learner ID. This Learner ID is required to confirm the APLD account that will be associated with payment for each seat request. If staff has not yet been identified, or if the identified staff member does not yet have an APLD account, you may still submit a seat request to secure a spot. The attendee’s name and APLD Learner ID can be collected through the supplemental form (referenced in step 3), until July 27, 2026. 

For more information on registration—including how to submit a seat request, lodging options, and FAQs—please visit the IDEA Conference Registration webpage. 

Need help with completing registration? Please email the IDEA Conference inbox or join the IDEA Conference Planning Committee during an upcoming office hour. Please register in advance for a virtual office hour time slot. 

Information regarding the Special Education Leadership Preconference application and registration process will be released in the coming days. Anyone interested in participating in the preconference—either as a single day experience or in addition to the full conference—should apply using the preconference application only. 

We look forward to learning with you at this year’s conference. For the latest announcements please visit the IDEA Conference website. 

The ADE/ESS Special Education Program Approval system for the 2026–2027 school year will open on April 13, 2026. ESS plans to have all Private Special Education Schools, Emotional Disabilities Public (ED-P) programs, and Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) that wish to operate for fiscal year 2027 reviewed and approved by June 15, 2026.  See memo here.

If you have questions, please email the Private Day and ED-P inbox or the ESS Vouchers inbox.

NEW INTEGRITY RULE: Integrity Rule -40104

As of March 30, 2026, a new special education (SPED) data integrity rule was implemented to validate and capture student exits from SPED services. Under IDEA, students are eligible for SPED services through 21 years of age unless they have graduated with a regular high school diploma. Students who turn 22 years of age during the school year are eligible to complete the year with services; however, they have effectively reached the maximum age allowable for services.

Integrity Message for -40104: Students may not have an exit reason School Is Out when they are over 22 years of age by June 30. Please adjust to exit reason Reached Maximum Age.

This new integrity rule aims to better capture students who are aging out of IDEA eligibility at the end of the reporting year.

The SPED-Related Integrity Rules tool found on our AzEDS SPED Reporting page has been updated to provide troubleshooting guidance for this integrity failure. Please also refer to the SPED Exit validation matrix for allowable SPED and enrollment exit code combinations.

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT

Section 618 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires public education agencies (PEAs) to report specific data each year, including discipline incidents for students receiving special education services, expulsions of students not receiving special education services, and students who exited special education during the reporting year. PEAs review, validate, and certify these data using the Special Education Data Dashboard (SEDD).

The ESS Data Management team is holding a webinar via Zoom to guide PEAs through end-of-year reporting in the SEDD application. The session will cover recent application updates, exit and discipline data requirements, and key deadlines to support accurate and timely reporting. A recording of the webinar will be made available for those unable to attend.

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026  
Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.  
Register for the online training

We hope to see you during the SEDD webinar!

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the ESS Data Management inbox or call us at 602-542-3962.