Special Education Guidance and Technical Assistance

The Office of Special Education has provided guidance and technical assistance documents in a variety of areas related to Special Education.

Behavior

• Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP) Technical Assistance Document (PDF)

Brain Injury

• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Technical Assistance Document (PDF)

Eligibility Categories Guidance

The following documents provide a comprehensive overview of the HB11-1277 history/next steps/timelines, the context of Multi-Tiered System of Supports, information specific to twice exceptional learners, and the definition/eligibility criteria for each of the disability categories.

• OSEP Memo on Eligibility dated 11-07 (PDF)
• HB11-1277 Q & A -- March 2013 Update (PDF)
• *** New Disability Categories, Guidance and Timelines (House Bill 11-1277), October 31, 2011 (PDF)

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)

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• Guidelines for the Educational Evaluation & Intervention of Auditory Processing Deficits (APD)

Development Delay

• Developmental Delay Technical Assistance Document (PDF)

Serious Emotional Disability

• Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Special Education for Students with Serious Emotional Disability (PDF)
• Topic Brief: Social Maladjustment - Determining the Presence of Social Maladjustment While Considering Eligibility for Serious Disability (SED) and Intervention Strategies (PDF) (ENGLISH)
  • Spanish Topic Brief- Social Maladjustment - Determining the Presence of Social Maladjustment While Considering Eligibility for Serious Disability (SED) and Intervention Strategies (PDF)

Specific Learning Disabilities

• SLD: Evaluation and Eligibility Technical Assistance Document (PDF)
• Cultural and/or Linguistic Diversity and SLD Technical Assistance Document (PDF)
• Gifted and SLD (Twice Exceptional) Technical Assistance Document (PDF)
• Triennial Reevaluation and Continued Eligibility Technical Assistance Document (PDF)

​Traumatic Brain Injury

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

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Colorado's Exceptional Children's Educational Act (ECEA)

• *** ECEA Requirements that Exceed IDEA Requirements, September 1, 2011 (PDF)
• Guidance on Paraprofessional Qualifications (2025) (PDF)

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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)

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Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)

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

 

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Health

• Emergency Medications on the Bus Technical Assistance Document (PDF)
• Role of the School Nurse: Students with Special Needs Technical Assistance Document (PDF)

Measles Guidance

This document provides guidance to Colorado schools and administrative units (AU) on ensuring continuity of learning for students with individualized education programs (IEPs) who are quarantined, excluded, or otherwise unable to attend school during a potential measles outbreak.

• Expectations for Special Education Service Delivery During a Measles Outbreak (PDF)

 Individualized Education Program (IEP)

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

 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

• The Consideration of Clinical Diagnoses in the Educational Identification of Disabilities in Accordance with IDEA (PDF)
• Consideration of Special Factors: "Unique" Communication Needs (PDF)
• Making Least Restrictive Environment Placement Decisions for Preschoolers (PDF)

 Learning

• Reading and Math Interventionists in Special Education (PDF) - (in process of review) New codes that allow flexibility for the use of interventionists in Special Education

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

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

 Mental Health

• Guide to School-Based Mental Health Services and Professionals in Colorado (PDF)
• Social Skills (PDF)

Multilingual Learners (ML) Identified with or Suspected of Having Educational Disabilities

• Culturally Responsive School-Based Family Interviewing: Engaging in Empathic Family Partnerships
• Linguistically Responsive Data-Based Instructional Decision-Making for K-12 Multilingual Learners
• Multilingual Learner Processing Guide (PDF)
• Multilingual Learner Family Interview Questions - Building Trust and Mutual Understanding (PDF)
  • Entrevistas con familias de los MLs (PDF)
• Multilingual Learners Identified or Suspected of having Educational Disabilities: Enrollment Scenarios Flowchart  (PDF)
• Students who are Newcomers: Considerations for Special Education (PDF)
• Colorado Standardized Identification of Multilingual Learners Procedure and FAQs 
  • Identificación estandarizada de Colorado
• Supporting Dually Identified Students (PDF)
  • Apoyo a los estudiantes con doble identificación (PDF)
• Local Normative Data Like-Peer Comparison (PDF)(English) 
  • Datos normativos locales Comparación con compeñeros similares (PDF)

OSEP Q&As

Office of Special Education Programs has issued the following Guidance and Q&A Documents

• INITIAL EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT TIMELINE
• Questions and Answers for K-12 Pub. Schs. in the Current COVID-19 Environment (OCR 9/28/20)

Out-of-Home Placement

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

Preschool

• 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)

Professional Development

• Online Free Professional Development Options for Colorado Educators (PDF)
• Upcoming Colorado Department of Education Professional Development Opportunities
• On-Demand Colorado Department of Education Professional Development Opportunities
• Exceptional Student Services Unit Calendar of Events

Reading/Math

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

 Secondary Transition

Adult and Community Agencies 

• TA: Adult and Community Agencies (English) (PDF)
• TA: Adult and Community Agencies (Spanish) (PDF)

Voting Rights and Responsibilities

• TA: Voting Rights and Responsibilities (English) (PDF)
• TA: Voting Rights and Responsibilities (Spanish) (PDF)

Transition Planning

• TA: Transition Planning (English) (PDF)
• TA: Transition Planning (Spanish) (PDF)

Transition Services for 18-21 Year Olds

• TA: Transition Services for 18-21 Year Olds (English) (PDF)
• TA: Transition Services for 18-21 Year Olds (Spanish) (PDF)

Transfer for Students Receiving 18-21 Transition Services

• TA: Transfer for Students Receiving 18-21 Transition Services (English) (PDF)
• TA: Transfer for Students Receiving 18-21 Transition Services (Spanish) (PDF)

Student Count Requirements for 18-21 Year Old Students

• TA: Student Count Requirements for 18-21 Year Old Students (English) (PDF)
• TA: Student Count Requirements for 18-21 Year Old Students (Spanish) (PDF)

School to Work Alliance Program 

• TA: School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP) (English) (PDF)
• TA: School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP) (Spanish) (PDF) 

Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP)

• TA: Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) (English) (PDF)
• TA: Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) (Spanish) (PDF)

Graduation and Diplomas

• TA: Graduation and Diplomas (English) (PDF)
• TA: Graduation and Diplomas (Spanish) (PDF)

Grading and Transcripts

• TA: Grading and Transcripts (English) (PDF) 
• TA: Grading and Transcripts (Spanish) (PDF)

Concurrent Enrollment

• TA: Concurrent Enrollment (English) (PDF)
• TA: Concurrent Enrollment (Spanish) (PDF)

Important Ages and Milestones

• TA: Important Ages and Milestones (English) (PDF)
• TA: Important Ages and Milestones (Spanish) (PDF)

Speech Language Pathologists (SLP)

• SLP/OT/PT Services, April 1, 2009
• Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Technical Assistance Document (PDF)
• Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) Technical Assistance Document (PDF)