General Supervision/Monitoring

COVID-19 and Special Education

View information for educators and parents to support students with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 resources for special education

Standard Record Reviews (SRR) 2021-2022

SRR and Transition-Age IEP Record Review Training and Webinar

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) recognizes that educators, students, and families continue to face unprecedented circumstances and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time, however, the U.S. Department of Education has not granted waivers related to the monitoring of the compliance of IEPs, and we must therefore proceed with the annual IEP review process for SY2021-22. Historically, AUs reviewed IEPs that amount to 3% of the December count IEP enrollment with a minimum cap of 10 and the maximum cap of 50. In SY2020-21, the maximum cap was reduced to 30 to reduce the burden on AUs during this time. CDE will use this reduced sampling amount once again for the upcoming school year’s reviews. AUs must complete IEP file reviews for all age groups by June 1, 2022. Details of the number of reviews required in each age category and directions for completing the reviews can be found in a document labeled, “IEP Record Review Directions SY2021-22” located in the Attachments List of the Compliance tab in the Data Management System (DMS).

Significant Disproportionality

IDEA Section 618(d) requires States to annually examine whether significant disproportionality based on race and ethnicity exists in their LEAs (in Colorado, Administrative Units). Having significant disproportionality means that students of a particular race/ethnicity are significantly more likely than their other-race peers to be identified as children with disabilities, identified with a particular disability category (e.g., Autism, Intellectual Disability), placed in a particular educational setting (e.g., separate classroom), or suspended/expelled as a disciplinary measure.

The significant disproportionality regulation and surrounding guidance:

Implementation of the significant disproportionality regulation in Colorado:

What happens after an AU is identified as significantly disproportionate?

When an AU is identified as significantly disproportionate, it must 1) identify the factors contributing to the significant disproportionality, 2) review, and if appropriate, revise policies, procedures, and practices contributing to the significant disproportionality, and 3) Set aside 15% of its IDEA Part B allocation for comprehensive coordinated early intervening services (CCEIS). The resources listed below address the required activities in more detail:

Mandatory Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CCEIS) – Q&A and Allowable Usage of CCEIS Funds (PDF)
Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) – Resources Step By Step (Center for IDEA Fiscal Reporting)
Review the SY2019-20 Significant Disproportionality Workbook reference document (PDF)

Webinars

There is so much to learn about significant disproportionality! The following short webinar series explores various topics within the significant disproportionality requirements.

Webinar 1: What is significant disproportionality? (8:56)
Webinar 2: How is significant disproportionality defined, calculated, and examined in Colorado?
- Part 1 (11:26)
- Part 2 (13:40)
Webinar 3: To AU Directors: “How do I know if my AU has or is close to significant disproportionality?” (17:49)
Webinar 4: Requirements for AUs determined as significantly disproportionate (16:52)

Staff Approval Matrix (SAM)

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