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Special Education Directors' Corner

In the State of Colorado, Local Education Agencies (LEAs) as defined in IDEA are called  Administrative Unist (AUs). Each AU is required to employ a Special Education Director of Record (ECEA Rule 3.01).

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What's New

May 2025 ECEA Rule Changes to Form a New or Reorganized Administrative Unit (posted April 25, 2025)

On March 13, 2025, the Colorado State Board of Education adopted the recent updates to the ECEA Rules regarding forming new or reorganizing Administrative Units (AUs). This document focuses on changes to the application and approval process to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) will be developing additional technical assistance documents and a revised application for AU reorganization. 

Revised Guidance for HB22-1260 Access to Medically Necessary Services for Students (posted January 2025)

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 the Administrative Unit's (AU) special education responsibilities.

Memorandum Regarding State Complaint Procedures (posted October 17, 2024)

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.

OSEP Required Corrective Action Plan (CAP) - Proportionate Share (posted March 14, 2025)

After a recent monitoring conducted by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) CDE was notified that Colorado’s procedures governing the calculation of Proportionate Share Funds for 3- to 5-year-olds is not in compliance with the requirements of IDEA.  As a result, the state is required to engage in a corrective action plan (CAP) to remedy the noncompliance.  As part of the CAP ordered by OSEP, each AU in the state must recalculate Proportionate Share funds for the 3-to-5-year-olds using the best available data beginning with 2019 through 2023.

Abbreviated School Day

Information to come. 

 

Special Education Director Resources

New or Near New Special
Education Director Webpage

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.

Important Dates Coming Up

Year-at-a-Glance for SY 2024-2025 (PDF)

April 2025     

10th to 11th

Colorado Exceptional Student Services Unit Spring Directors Meeting

May 2025

1st 

2024-25 IEP Record Reviews completed for all age groups in the DMS

1st

2023-24 Federal Application Project Narratives (NEW) Window Opens

1st

SPED Discipline and SPED EOY open for 2024-2025

Upcoming Technical Assistance and Professional Development

2025 Colorado ESSU Spring Directors Meeting

Join us for a two-day directors’ meeting that will focus on improving services and outcomes for students. This collaborative event will bring together educators and leaders to share best practices, discuss innovative strategies, and explore solutions that support the diverse needs of these exceptional students.

Dates: April 10 to 11, 2025
Location: Sheraton Denver West, 360 Union Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80228

Registration closes March 19, 2025

Register here for the 2025 Colorado ESSU Spring Directors Meeting.

Special Education Trainings or Professional Development Opportunities

View a list of upcoming
training opportunities

On-Demand Special Education Trainings

View a list of Special
Education On-Demand Trainings

Educational Surrogate Parent (ESP)

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

 Federal and State Guidance 

Federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

Colorado State

    New Administrative Unit or Reorganization Application and Checklist

    Applications for new or reorganized AUs, dates for the 25/26 school year TBD.

    Supporting Displaced Special Education Students

    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.

    Find Your Special Education or Gifted Education Director

    General Assistance

    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

    Administrative Unit (AU) Contacts

    Special Education
    Director of Record List

    List of Administrative Units
    and District Codes (PDF)

    For more information, contact:

    Contact Us Icons

    Julie Rottier-Lukens
    Supervisor, Special Education Director Liaison
    Email Julie Rottier-Lukens
    303-829-9221

    Dr. Paul Foster
    Assistant Commissioner, ESSU
    Email Paul Foster
    Phone: 720-926-4033

     

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    Email

    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.

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    Financial transparency

    Financial information on schools and districts throughout Colorado. Learn more about financial transparency.

     

    Contact Us

    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