CDE will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
You are here
Special Education Directors' Corner
OSEP Required Corrective Action Plan (CAP)
Assistance for Parents
Special Education
Beth Donahue, Parent Engagement Specialist
720-926-1453 or Parents_ESSUquestions@cde.state.co.us
Gifted Education
Rebecca McKinney, Director, Office of Gifted Education
720-774-0908 or McKinney_R@cde.state.co.us
Jump to
Quick Links
- Office of Special Education Technical Assistance Documents
- Upcoming and Archived Trainings
- (Special Education under "Topics" on the left)
- CDE News Bureau
Meetings and Conferences
2025 Spring Directors Meeting Information Coming Soon.
Important Dates Coming Up
Year-at-a-Glance for SY 2024-2025 (PDF)
January 2025
1st Federal Application Project Narrative Amendment Window #2 opens
30th SPED December Count initial error-free due date and beginning of initial report review week before duplicates next week. Data changes can be made during this week to ensure accurate data before the duplicate process.
31st Federal Application Project Narrative Amendment Window #2 closes
31st SPED December Count complete error-free snapshot is due prior to the resolving of duplicates process next week.
February 2025
1st 2022-23 Budget Revision Window #1 Opens
18th SPED December Count duplicates resolved deadline; and beginning of the final report review week.21st SPED December Count Student and Staff final error-free due date. Final reports must be reviewed, signed, and submitted to CDE.
29th 2022-23 Budget Revision Window #1 Closes
Educational Surrogate Parent (ESP)
- Special Education and Educational Surrogate Parents - Technical Assistance and Training Manual 2023 (PDF)
- Educational Surrogate Parent (ESP) Guidance Memo, June 2018 (PDF)
- Update on Educational Surrogate Parent and Counsel for Youth Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Assignment of an ESP Form 2024-2025 (PDF)
Interested in Serving as an ESP?
Contact Sherrell Bethel, Parent Training & Information Director (sbethel@peakparent.org).
Address Educational Surrogate Parent (ESP) questions to:
Katherine Rains
Rains_k@cde.state.co.us
Submit form via FAX to:
303-866-6767
Mail form to:
Colorado Dept. of Education
Office of Special Education
4th Floor
201 E. Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80203
New Special Education Director
AU Special Education Director of Record and Fiscal Contact Information
ESSU must have current contact information for all state-level Special Education Directors and Special Education Fiscal Contacts. Our office communicates important updates and information through our listserv, please be sure that we have accurate, updated information. Communications from this listserv will come from CDE_SPED.
ESSU Newsletter
The ESSU e-newsletter is our office's primary form of communication with the field. It is published once a month and contains information from the Office of Gifted and Talented, Office of Facility Schools, and Office of Special Education.
What's New
Revised Guidance for HB22-1260 Access to Medically Necessary Services for Students
This guidance document was revised in January 2025 and is intended to support the implementation of HB 22-1260 and, more broadly, its relationship to school districts’ special education responsibilities.
Memorandum Regarding State Complaint Procedures
On May 16, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) determined that the Colorado Department of Education’s (CDE) State Complaint Procedures required content for filing a written state complaint that exceeds the requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Until the revisions to the State’s ECEA Rules and the State Complaint Procedures are in effect, the CDE will follow IDEA content requirements for state complaints, as described in 34 C.F.R. § 300.153(b), and due process complaints, as described in 34 C.F.R § 300.508(b). Please see the attached memo for more information. For questions, please contact Brandon Edelman. Edelman_B@cde.state.co.us.
Memorandum Regarding State Complaint Procedures
10/17/24
Memos to AU and Special Education Directors
- Adoption of Extended Part C Option for Colorado (PDF) - April 2022
- K - 12 Resources for Afghan Evacuees (PDF)
- OSERS FAQ: The Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under the IDEA (PDF)
- OCR FAQ: The Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PDF)
New or Reorganization Application & Checklist
*Applications for New or Reorganized AUs, dates for the 25/26 school year TBD.
Resources
There are many ways that children and families can be displaced. There are floods, fires, and other types of natural disasters that can destroy homes or make them uninhabitable for periods of time. Families can also experience hardships that result in major home life changes.
Having trouble with this webpage?
If you have problems with broken links or accessing the content on this page, please contact the Exceptional Student Services Unit at ESSU@cde.state.co.us. Please copy the URL link for this page into the email when referencing the problem you are experiencing.
Financial information on schools and districts throughout Colorado. Learn more about financial transparency.
Colorado Dept. of Education
201 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-866-6600
Contact CDE
CDE Hours
Mon to Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
See also Licensing Hours
UPDATED
January 7, 2025
Copyright © 1999-2025 Colorado Department of Education.
All rights reserved.
Title IX.
Accessibility.
Disclaimer.
Privacy.
Connect With Us
