OSDE - SES Tuesday, February 18th, 2020- Internal

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Special Education Services

Internal Information




The Oklahoma Alternate Assessment Program (OAAP)

Below you will find the link to the most recent OAAP Update. It contains timely information to ensure your district is ready for the 2020 OAAP Operational Window. 

OAAP Update: February 24, 2020


Finance Reminder

 Project 615 re-allocated funds have been distributed to qualifying districts.  The districts that qualified have received an email.  To qualify, districts must have submitted a project 615 budget by December 1, 2019.  Qualifying districts should complete a project 615 budget amendment.

For more information please contact Karen Howard at 405-521-3587.


Differentiated Monitoring Results (DMR) Reminders

Progress Monitoring - Districts with determination results of level 3 or level 4 (optional for level 2) are required to complete progress monitoring by March 31, 2020. To complete the progress monitoring requirement, log in to Grants Management (GMS) and from the Menu List select Special Education Compliance. Once you have opened your review, select the Improvement Activities tab, and then the Progress Monitoring tab. Directions and guiding questions to complete the progress monitoring are located on this tab. After completing the information on the Progress Monitoring tab, don’t forget to go to the Submit for Review tab and submit your updated information.

Uploading Professional Development – All DMR Levels 2, 3, and 4 must complete Professional Development (pd) and upload documentation (agenda and sign-in sheets) to Grants Management by May 31, 2020. You may upload professional documentation once the pd has been provided. To upload documents, log in to Grants Management (GMS) and from the Menu List select the Special Education Compliance link. Once you have opened your review, select the District Entry tab, then select the Supporting Documentation tab. Remember to save the page. You will not need to Submit after uploading documents.


Shawnee Regional Behavior Training: Presented by SPDG

The Shawnee Regional Behavior Training will be held February 27th from 8:00-3:00pm with lunch provided by the Oklahoma Parents Center (OPC). The training will be conducted by Dr. Mary Ann Shepherd, a school psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and will include sessions on Function Based Behavior and Intensive Interventions for students with the most challenging behaviors. These trainings are designed for counselors, school psychologists, special educators, and behavior interventionists. Please click here to register.


Paraprofessional Trainings – Duncan and Okmulgee

The Oklahoma State Department of Education - Special Education Services Division will be hosting Paraprofessional Trainings in Duncan and Okmulgee. Topics of discussion include: Behavior Strategies, Progress Monitoring, Data Collection, and Classroom Behavior Management for Paraprofessionals. These trainings, in addition to online work, will provide the required hours of SDE curriculum necessary for the SDE Paraprofessional Certificate. Enrollees must attend both Part I and Part II of these trainings. Enrollment is limited and fees will be paid by SDE.

Special Note: The SDE Paraprofessional Training is required for all support staff working with students with special needs. Those who enroll in the Paraprofessional Part I and Part II trainings do not need to enroll in the Services and Management Training.

To register for the Paraprofessional Training Part I – Duncan, click here.

To register for the Paraprofessional Training Part II – Duncan, click here.

To register for the Paraprofessional Training Part I – Okmulgee, click here.

To register for the Paraprofessional Training Part II – Okmulgee, click here.

To register for the Paraprofessional Training Part I – Shawnee, click here.

To register for the Paraprofessional Training Part II – Shawnee, click here.


Services and Management Trainings – Duncan, Okmulgee, and Shawnee

The Oklahoma State Department of Education - Special Education Services Division will be hosting Services and Management of Special Education trainings in Duncan, Okmulgee, and Shawnee. Topics of discussion include: learning strategies, legal overview of SpEd, review of SpEd procedures, accommodations, and classroom behavior management. Appropriate for novice teachers and paraprofessionals. Enrollment is limited and fees will be paid by SDE.

Special Note: The Services and Management of Special Education Training meets the 6 hours of required training for paraprofessionals.

To register for the Services and Management Training – Duncan, click here.

To register for the Services and Management Training – Okmulgee, click here.

To register for the Services and Management Training – Shawnee, click here.


FBA/BIP Trainings

The trainings will focus on the new FBA/BIP tool in Edplan, as well as guidance and support on conducting and implementing comprehensive FBAs and BIPs.

This event is intended for Special Education Directors or 1 – 2 District Representatives who plan to take the information back to train other district staff.

For more information and to register, click the link to the corresponding training location. 

Please consider registering for our webinar held on March 10th, 2020

For more information contact Jenae Tindell at 405-522-3255 or Jenae.Tindell@sde.ok.gov 


Boot Camp - Alternative Special Education Certification

The next Non-Traditional to Special Education Certification program "Boot Camp" is scheduled for April 18th - June 20th, 2020. The application acceptance window opens March 1st - March 20th, 2020. Boot Camp does fill quickly.

This process is designed for candidates who meet the following criteria:

  • Have earned a four-year degree from an Institution of Higher Education holding Regional Accreditation
  • Have a Grade Point Average og 2.75 or higher from a previous degree program
  • Have a recommendation from a representative at a school district or Institution of Higher Education
  • Pass a National Background Check
  • Commit to complete a Master’s Degree or Certification in Special Education

Candidates who meet the above criteria and are interested in obtaining a non-traditional special education certification may submit an application to the State Department of Education, Special Education Services. Candidates must then complete a 150-hour program that includes 120 hours of special education known as "Boot Camp" plus 30 hours of field experience. The program is a fast-paced, intensive 9 week course, with a minimum of 8-10 hours weekly plus five Saturday classes.

For additional information, please contact Jill Hilst at 405-522-0452 or jill.hilst@sde.ok.gov


Spring 2020 Oklahoma Regional Dyslexia Workshops

The featured keynote speaker is Dr. David P. Hurford, a psychologist and scientist who specializes in dyslexia/reading difficulties and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He is a professor and chair of the Department of Psychology and Counseling at Pittsburg State University and directs the Center for Research, Evaluation and Awareness of Dyslexia (Center for READing) at the same institution.

Registration for all events will be from 8:00-8:30am, lunch will be on your own.  Sessions will conclude at 4:00pm.

Workshop 1

Workshop #1 The Science of Reading

The Oklahoma State Department of Education-Special Education Services Division will be hosting regional dyslexia workshops for general and special education teachers, district administrators, and special education directors, in the science of reading, targeting identification and interventions for students with dyslexia.  This workshop is similar in content to the OK Regional Dyslexia Workshops in October 2019.

March 3 in McAlester                  Register here

March 4 in Duncan                       Register here

March 9 in Tulsa                           Register here

March 31 in OKC                          Register here

Workshop 2

Workshop #2 Dyslexia – Screening and Assessment

When a child is struggling to read, someone will probably suggest that he or she be tested for dyslexia. What does it mean to be tested? You might think that of a test as something you take in an afternoon. Someone scores it and tells you how you did. Evaluation is a more accurate word to describe the process of determining if someone has dyslexia. The word evaluation encompasses identification, screening, testing, diagnosis, and all the other information gathering involved when the student, his or her family, and a team of professionals work together to determine why the student is having difficulty and what can be done to help. (International Dyslexia Association). 

This workshop will be geared for school psychometrists, school psychologists, district administrators, and special education directors.

March 10 in Tulsa                          Register here

April 1 in OKC                              Register here