2026 ESSU Fall Directors Meeting

This session provides annual training on House Bill 24-1063 requirements related to Abbreviated School Day and Abbreviated School Day Schedules. Participants will examine policy and monitoring expectations, analyze current AU reporting data, and strengthen understanding of how abbreviated schedules affect Colorado’s compliance with IDEA and Section 504. The presentation will equip attendees with practical guidance for monitoring AU outcomes and ensuring implementation aligns with state and federal regulations.

This session will review how AU Determinations are calculated, including the data collection timeframes. It will then provide an overview of determination levels of support, with a focus on leveraging data to strengthen Specially Designed Instruction as measured by SPP/APR indicators.
Participants will also address a common challenge related to data lag in determinations by learning how to access and use more current data sources. The session will include a demonstration of how to navigate the Data Management System (DMS) to access the most current data available analyze multi-year trends.
Note: participants will need their laptops to access activities and data.

This session provides a foundational overview of Colorado’s facility schools and the work of the Office of Facility Schools. Participants will explore the different types of facility schools, who they serve, how students are referred and placed, and the roles of placing agencies, facility schools, and school districts throughout the process. The presentation will also examine the growth to 41 facility schools across the state and introduce several new facility schools.
Participants will gain a clearer understanding of funding, referral processes, and the distinct responsibilities of facility schools and local school districts. The session will also highlight the Facility Schools Technical Assistance Center and its role in supporting rural districts and students who may not have direct access to a facility school, along with updates and what’s new in Colorado’s facility school system.