Special Education Guidance Documents

Disability Categories

• New Disability Categories, Guidance and Timelines (House Bill 11-1277), October 31, 2011

Autism Spectrum Disorder Guidance

• Guidelines for the Educational Evaluation of Autism Spectrum Disorder (Revised Aug., 2020)(PDF)
• Spanish Version - Guidelines for the Educational Evaluation of Autism Spectrum Disorder (Revised Aug., 2020)(PDF)

Traumatic Brain Injury

• Brain Injury in Children and Youth: A Manual for Educators (2018) (PDF)

Discipline

• Discipline of Children with Disabilities, March 19, 2012

ECEA

• ECEA Requirements that Exceed IDEA Requirements, September 1, 2011

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)
• Assignment of an ESP Form 2023-2024 (PDF)
• ECEA Rules regarding ESPs (1 CCR 301-8, 2220-R-6.02(8) (PDF)

Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)

• Functional Behavior Assessment Guidance Document (PDF) (2024)

IEP

• IEP Training for Foster Parents (House Bill 09-1078), January 27, 2010

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

• IDEA 2004 and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
  • More Information on the McKinney-Vento Act

Out-of-Home Placement

• Children in Out-Of-Home Placement, House Bill 08-1019, June 24, 2009

Pre-School

• FAPE for Preschool Special Education Students (PDF)
• OSEP LRE/FAPE Letter, January 2017 (US Department of Education webpage)
• DCL: A Response to Intervention Process Cannot Be Used to Delay-Deny an Evaluation for Preschool Special Education Services (US Department of Education webpage)

Reading/Math

• Reading and Math Interventionists Supporting Students in Special Education - in the process of review

Speech Language Pathologists (SLP)/Occupational Therapists (OT)/Physical Therapists (PT)

• SLP/OT/PT Services, April 1, 2009

Vision

• NIMAS/NIMAC - Procedures in Colorado, September 2, 2009