Special Education Administrators,

Special Education Learning Experiences for Competency in Teaching (SELECT) is a federally funded program sponsored by the Arizona Department of Education/Exceptional Student Services and is offered through the Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University. SELECT courses are recommended for special and general education teachers, administrators, related service personnel, paraeducators, and other interested individuals.

Certified school personnel can take SELECT classes for certificate renewal hours. SELECT classes can be taken for university credit for those teachers or administrators who are required by their school districts to have official transcripts and for those who may need to transfer hours out of state (tuition and associated fees apply). The classes can also be taken for professional growth contact hours for free.

To continually improve the SELECT course offerings, please take the Needs Assessment Survey to provide information about where you work, what you do, and what training you think would be the most valuable to the professional growth of special education and general education personnel who work with students with disabilities. Please share this survey with your colleagues and staff.

For more information, please email the SELECT inbox.

Special Education Directors,

The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is excited to announce the start of the 2022–23 National Presenter Series with Penny Reed, PhD. This workshop is designed for special educators and related service providers.

Assistive Technology Consideration and Assessment Made Easy

Date: September 20, 2022

Time: 8:00 a.m.−3:30 p.m.

Fee: $19 (working lunch, lunch will be provided)

Where: Pendergast Community Center

Address: 10550 W Mariposa St, Phoenix, AZ 85037

About Penny Reed

Penny Reed, PhD, is an independent consultant in AT services and provides training on various topics related to AT with a special focus on improving the delivery of AT services. Dr. Reed has a BS in elementary education, an MS and PhD in special education, and certification as both a principal and special education administrator. She was the director of the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) for many years and serves on the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) Leadership Team. She is a founding member of the QIAT Consortium, the National Assistive Technology in Education Network, and the Coalition for Assistive Technology in Oregon. Dr. Reed has authored and co-authored numerous articles and manuals, including her most recent publication, Best Practices in Special Education: A Framework for Assistive Technology (2022), co-authored with Gayl Bowser.

Workshop Description:

Are you confused about your responsibility to provide assistive technology devices and services?

Are you frustrated with delays in obtaining AT assessments from sources outside your PEA or the cost of those assessments?

Are you looking for an efficient, effective way to determine a student's need for assistive technology? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this workshop is for you.

Assistive Technology Consideration and Assessment Made Easy

This activity-packed workshop will present a team-based model for completing AT consideration and assessment. It begins with a brief overview of the laws related to the provision of AT services in the schools, including AT Consideration and Assessment. Participants will examine and discuss AT Consideration forms to determine what works for them. Then, an AT Assessment process will be explained. Specific, easy-to-follow forms will be provided. Participants will use the forms for guided practice in completing the AT Assessment process. The training will end with pointers for implementation planning. It is most beneficial if participants can attend as a team.

If you have questions regarding this training, please email the AT Inbox.

Register for Assistive Technology Consideration and Assessment Made Easy.

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT     

New AzEDS SPED Integrity Rule -40079 for FY23

A new Integrity Rule -40079 will be introduced into the integrity process on FY23 SPED data shortly. This update is a continuation of our effort to ensure clean data for the state. A new one-sheet Integrity Tool is available on our AzEDS SPED Reporting webpage for troubleshooting tips, and the rule has been added to our SPED Integrity Rules Reference document and the FY23 ESS Data Reporting Updates document.

Integrity Rule -40079

This rule will validate the reported Resident School ID is a site of the District of Residence (DOR).

Except in cases if the student is attending a Union or High School District and the DOR is an Elementary District without a High School, then the Resident School ID should be a site within the District of Attendance.

Expected Resident School IDs have been outlined in rule -40077 introduced in FY22 if the student is attending:

• Private Day School - the public school site where the student would be enrolled and attending if not placed in the private day school.
• Voucher - the public school site where the student would be enrolled and attending if not placed in the residential treatment center or a state institution.
• Public Education Agency Placement (PEA) - the public school site where the student would be enrolled and attending if not placed in another PEA.
• Head Start Programs - the public school site where the student would be enrolled and attending if not placed in the Head Start program.
• Public School - defaults to the public school site where the student is currently enrolled & attending.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions regarding this new rule.

Special Education Directors,

Please share the following math professional learning opportunities with general and special education teachers who teach mathematics.

The following virtual sessions are being offered via Zoom and are free to attend.  Click the session link to view the session description and to pre-register.

Take a D.I.P. (Daily Inclusive Practices) into Desmos’ Polygraphs for Grades 4–12 

Wednesday, August 31 from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Creating Culturally Linguistic and Inclusive Math Spaces: Using Interactive Read-Alouds for Grades K–12 

Tuesday, September 13 from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Take a D.I.P. into Splat! for Grades K–6 

Wednesday, September 21st from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Take a D.I.P. into Desmos’ Marbleslides for Grades 7–12 

Wednesday, October 26th from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Putting the L in S.T.E.M. for Grades K–12 

Tuesday, November 29 from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Take a D.I.P. into Three-Act Tasks for Grades K–5 

Wednesday, November 30th from 4:00–5:00 p.m. 

Take a D.I.P. into Three-Act Tasks for Grades 6–12 

Thursday, December 1st from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Introduction to Fluency with Whole Numbers (Grades K–6)

Wednesday, December 14th from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Please email Jenifer Fernandez or email Rob Hilliker with any questions.

Special Education Directors,

 In collaboration with the Paraprofessional Resource & Research Center and the CEEDAR Center, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has developed Effective and High-Leverage Practices for Paraeducators, a free, on-demand, eLearning program for paraeducators.

 Paraeducator participants engage with interactive learning activities, watch videos, and explore resources to support their effective implementation of the high-leverage practices in special education. Participants have access to the program for one full year from the date of their registration through June 1, 2024. PD certificates are available for each phase or the entire completed program. Membership in CEC is not required for program participation.

 Visit the CEC website for more information and to register for the eLearning program.

 Also, be sure to check out the Core Competencies for Special Education Paraeducators, recently updated paraeducator competencies released by CEC based on the four areas of the high-leverage practices in special education.

Special Education Administrators,

Project EASEL, in partnership with ADE, would like to invite you to tune into the Exploring Strategies for Social Emotional Learning fall and spring professional learning series. We plan to share a variety of information and strategies that will support your understanding and implementation of assertiveness, self-efficacy, and self-regulation. 

Registration is required for each session. Please view the this flyer with details of upcoming sessions and registration links. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m.

Topics include:

Middle School Students Can Self-Regulate: Strategies for Supporting Self-Regulation

• September 20, 2022

Teaching Middle School Students to Persist Through Challenging Tasks Using Self-Efficacy

• October 11, 2022

Preparing for Postsecondary Success: Teaching High School Students to Self-Regulate

• November 8, 2022

Strengthening Confidence and Persistence: Strategies to Increase Self-Efficacy in High School Students

• January 10, 2023

Teaching Students Respectful Communication: Understanding Assertiveness

• February 21, 2023

Empowering Arizona with Social Emotional Learning

• April 4, 2023

On behalf of Project EASEL, we want to say, “welcome back to a new and exciting school year,” and we look forward to seeing you virtually this fall semester.

For more information or if you have any questions, please email Pattie Noonan.

Dear Educators and Therapists,

Are you overwhelmed by PD? Don’t have time for a 90-minute webinar? We got you! Please join the Arizona Department of Education/Exceptional Student Services/Assistive Technology Team for our fall series titled “Assistive Technology: Just One Thing (JOT).”

These fast, 30-minute sessions will showcase just one organizational or assistive technology tool or strategy that you can use in your classroom or teacher/therapist life. Are mornings or afternoons better for you? No worries; each JOT will be presented on Wednesdays at lunchtime and after school. Choose the time that works for you. The first sessions will take place on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, from 11:30 a.m.−12:00 p.m. and again from 3:00−3:30 p.m. The topic will be Get GO-ing with Graphic Organizers.

Register for 11:30 a.m.

Register for 3:00 p.m.

Focusing and organizing thoughts, ideas, and information in reading, writing, and math can be a real challenge for students. Join us at this JOT to learn about graphic organizers that may help struggling students to understand, remember, and apply information, and may help students to see connections, patterns, and relationships. We will explore how students can use a variety of these templates to organize their ideas with visual maps, diagrams, and pictures. Come, learn, and take away your favorite graphic organizer to use with your students the very next day. 

Register for these and future sessions.

If you have questions regarding this training, please email our AT inbox.

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT      

Special Education Data Updates Webinar Wednesday, August 17th  

  The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will be hosting the next Special Education Data Updates live webinar on Wednesday, August 17th from 2pm – 3pm. This session will cover a variety of data topics that will include (subject to change):  

• Reminders
  • Preparation for October 1 Data Collection
  • Data Management Toolkit available on website
  • IDEA Conference registration and Data Management session
  • Upcoming training for Proportionate Share obligations
• Trending topics
  • FY23 Data Reporting Updates Document
• Per Your Request
  • Overview of ASDB AzEDS Reporting and Vouchers vs Fee for Service
  • AzEDS Reporting for Private Day Schools and Residential Treatment Centers
  • Who to contact for MET questions.
  • Guidance in development for Secure Care incident reporting
• Top 3 Integrity Errors
• Q&A   

Registration is required to attend: Register for Special Education Data Updates webinar.  

   For questions, please contact ESS Data Management via email at [email protected].   

Special Education Directors,

ESS/Program Support and Monitoring (PSM) is proud to announce the release of the SY 2022–2023 Programmatic Monitoring Manual. This manual is a critical document for public education agencies (PEAs) participating in monitoring activities and can also be used by all PEAs to self-assess programmatic strengths and needs. 

ESS hopes this document assists PEAs in the review of systemic, programmatic needs within their entities.

For questions about the SY 2022—2023 Programmatic Monitoring Manual or programmatic monitoring in general, please contact your PEA’s assigned PSM specialist.

Special Education Directors,

Please see the following professional development opportunity jointly offered by ADE/ESS teams:

The Heart, Art, Craft, and Sciences of Reading/Writing for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities

The Exceptional Student Services Professional Learning and Sustainability, Special Populations, and Assistive Technology teams are partnering to offer a professional learning opportunity focused on a literacy strengths-based teaching and learning approach for students with low-incidence disabilities in grades K–12.

This day-and-a-half, in-person training will focus on the sciences of reading and writing, adapted to meet the complex needs of all students at Tier 1. The Assistive Technology team will also share tips, tricks, and tools on using technology to enhance reading and writing for all students. Educators will walk away with skills and strategies that can be implemented the next day. This literacy training is for all educators! Participants can earn 10.75 professional development credits for attending the training.

September 23, 2022

• 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (lunch provided)

September 24, 2022

• 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Materials

Participants will receive the book, Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction and Assessment, Second Edition.

Cost

The fee for the class is $40 (includes textbook and Friday lunch).

Location

Arizona Department of Education

100 N. 15th Avenue, Suite #300

Phoenix, AZ 85007

Please email Sandra Figueroa or email Christy Hegebush with any questions.  

Register today!