Advisory Commission on Special Education Members
- Sarah Notch, Chair
Heather Snipes, Vice Chair - Victoria Graf
- Dawn Hamilton
- Betty Lieu
April Lopez - Russell Michaud
Christine Oyakawa
Gloria Ruiz - Aubrey Scott
Barbara Sorter
- Matthew Wilkins
Student Members
- Helena Donato-Sapp
Michelle Feimer
Legislative Members
- Honorable Sasha Rene Perez, Senate
Honorable James Gallagher, Assembly
State Board of Education
Alison Yoshimoto-Towery, Liaison
State Special Schools
Nancy Hlibok Amann, Director, State Special Schools and Services Division
California Department of Education
Executive Secretary
Dr. Rachel Heenan, Director, Special Education Division
California Department of Education
Agenda times are approximate and are provided for convenience only. Items may be re-ordered to be heard on any day of the noticed meeting or on a subsequent agenda. The order of business may be changed without notice. Every effort will be made to webcast this meeting in its entirety, but some portions may not be webcast due to logistical constraints.
Reasonable Accommodation for Any Individual With a Disability
Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, any individual with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to attend or participate in a meeting or function of the Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE), may request assistance by contacting the Special Education Division (SED), 1430 N Street, Suite 2401, Sacramento, CA, 95814; telephone, 916-445-4602; fax, 916-327-3706.
Advisory Commission on Special Education
| Meeting Schedule | Meeting Location |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, February 18, 2026 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Pacific Time ± |
California Department of Education |
| Thursday, February 19, 2026 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time ± |
California Department of Education 1430 N Street, Room 1101 Sacramento, California 916-445-4602 |
Advisory Commission on Special Education Meeting Logistics
Members of the public may view the meeting by live webcast, which will subsequently be archived on the ACSE Meeting Webcasts web page.
The February 18‒19, 2026, ACSE meeting will be held at the California Department of Education (CDE), at the address noted above. The CDE building will be open to the public, however capacity may be limited to allow for physical distancing and members of the public are strongly encouraged to wear masks.
Public Comment Guidelines
Public comment may be via email, phone, or in-person, as specified below.
The public is highly encouraged to submit written comment to the ACSE members in advance for prior consideration. In order to ensure Commissioners have time to review comments, please submit comments by noon on Friday, February 13, 2026. However, comments received after that time will be forwarded to Commission members until the day of the meeting. Comments should be submitted to the ACSE mailbox at ACSE@cde.ca.gov. The following information should be included in the body of the email: (1) commenter's first and last name, (2) organization affiliation, (3) agenda item number or general public comment.
Phone
Public comment may also be provided by dialing the phone number and participant access code that will be provided on February 18–19, 2026, and then following the operator's prompts. Upon dialing in, callers will be added to a caller queue. The operator will notify callers when it is their turn to provide public comment. Public comment will be limited to one minute for each agenda item unless otherwise specified by the ACSE. Members of the public wishing to dial in for public comment should view the live-stream of the meeting. The number and access code will be provided at the start of public comment for each item.
Prior to making public comment, speakers who are watching the meeting via live webcast should make sure the volume on their computer is muted to avoid echoing or feedback during the call.
Please use the phone number and access code provided below:
- Phone number: 717-908-1926
- Participant Access Code: 1166083#
In-Person
Public comment may also be provided in-person at the ACSE meeting. However, capacity may be limited to allow for physical distancing and members of the public are strongly encouraged to wear masks. Individuals who wish to comment on a specific agenda item or provide general public comment must sign up on the public comment roster prior to public comment. Public comment will be limited to one minute for each agenda item unless otherwise specified by the ACSE.
Agenda Item Materials
Agenda item materials, including presentation materials, are available by sending a request for copies to ACSE@cde.ca.gov.
Advisory Commission on Special Education
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 9 a.m. Pacific Time ±
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, California
Begin Meeting
9 to 9:15 a.m. Pacific Time ±
- Call to Order: Roll Call
- Salute to the American Flag
- Review of Agenda: Day One
- Accessibility
- Review of Public Comment Options
- Communications and Announcements
Item 1
9:15 to 9:45 a.m.
Seating of Student Commissioners: New Student Commissioners will be introduced and sworn in. (Item Type: Information, Discussion, Action)
Item 2
9:45 to 10:15 a.m.
Committee Study Session (Operations and Planning Committee): In accordance with the ACSE bylaws, Operations and Planning Committee will meet. Presenters: Commissioners (ACSE). (Item Type: Information, Discussion, Action)
Item 3
10:15 to 10:45 a.m.
Committee Study Session: Impact Award: ACSE Committee will meet to: Assess progress on current projects and initiatives; Ensure their strategies and activities are aligned; and Prepare reports or agenda items to present at upcoming ACSE meetings. Presenters: Committee Chairs, ACSE. (Item Type: Information, Discussion, Action)
Item 4
10:45 to 11 a.m.
General Public Comment: General public comment is invited on any matter, including items not on the agenda. The ACSE is precluded from discussing matters not on the agenda; however, questions may be asked by Commissioners for clarification purposes. Issues raised by the public may be referred to in a future meeting agenda. The chair reserves the right to establish time limits on presentations. (Item Type: Information)
Adjournment
11 a.m.
Commissioners Transition to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Event
Adjournment of meeting, day one.
Advisory Commission on Special Education
Thursday, February 19, 2026, 9 a.m. Pacific Time ±
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, California
Begin Meeting
9 to 9:15 a.m. Pacific Time ±
- Call to Order: Roll Call
- Salute to the American Flag
- Review of Agenda: Day Two
- Accessibility
- Review of Public Comment Options
- Communications and Announcements
Item 5
9:15 to 10 a.m.
Supporting Innovative Practices (SIP): What's Working to Improve Inclusion: Lessons Learned from Supporting Innovative Practices. Presenters: Kevin Schaefer, Director, SIP, El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE), Carmen Hopkins, Ed.D., Director, SIP, Riverside County Office of Education, Janelle Mercado, Assistant Director, SIP, EDCOE, Andrew Wall, Ph.D., Founder and Principal, Fenix Evaluation and Research, Marla Silversmith, Superintendent, Burlingame School District, Lauren Link, Executive Director of Student Services, Wheatland Union High School District. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 6
10 to 10:30 a.m.
Commissioner, State Board of Education, and Director of State Special Schools Liaison Reports: An update from Commissioner Liaisons, State Board of Education (SBE) Liaison, and Director of State Special Schools (SSS) Liaison will be provided. Presenters: Commissioners, ASCE, Alison Yoshimoto-Towery, SBE, Nancy Hlibok Amann, Director of State Special Schools and Services Division, CDE. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Break
10:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Item 7
10:45 to 11:15 a.m.
The Arc of California - 2026 Policy Priorities for California's Developmental Disability Community: Faced with a federal government that is slashing funding for health and human services, and a large state budget deficit that threatens disability programs, Californians with disabilities and their families are on high-alert. This presentation will share policy priorities and advocacy strategies that will help guide the community through these challenging times and protect and strengthen services including special education, home and community based supports, and health care. Presenter: Jordan Lindsey, Executive Director, The Arc of California. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 8
11:15 to 11:45 a.m.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Program: This presentation provides an overview of the Sonoma County Regional DHH Program serving students from preschool through sixth grade and underscores the critical need for its continuation to ensure equitable access to instruction and services within a language-rich environment and a critical mass of DHH peers. It highlights the program’s ongoing partnership with Santa Rosa Junior College, which expands access to high-quality American Sign Language instruction for DHH students, their families, and general education students at Hidden Valley Elementary School, supporting access to DHH peers, fluent communication models, and an inclusive school community. The presentation also outlines a strategic plan to expand the Regional DHH Program to middle and high school levels, ensuring continuity of services, continued ASL instruction through the JC partnership, and sustained opportunities for DHH students to learn and socialize alongside DHH peers. Presenters: Elizabeth Engelken, Executive Director, Sonoma County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) and Sonoma County Charter SELPA, Johanna “Hanni” Köhle, Program Manager and DHH Teacher, Regional Program, Sonoma County SELPA, Hidden Valley Elementary School (operated by Santa Rosa City Schools), Sara Stallard, Department Chair, World Languages; American Sign Language Faculty, Santa Rosa Junior College, Alvin Singh, Associate Faculty, World Languages; American Sign Language Faculty, Santa Rosa Junior College. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Lunch
11:45 a.m to 12:30 p.m.
Item 9
12:30 to 12:45 p.m.
General Public Comment: General public comment is invited on any matter, including items not on the agenda. The ACSE is precluded from discussing matters not on the agenda; however, questions may be asked by Commissioners for clarification purposes. Issues raised by the public may be referred to in a future meeting agenda. The chair reserves the right to establish time limits on presentations. (Item Type: Information)
Item 10
12:45 to 1:30 p.m.
Special Education Director’s Report: An update on activities within the SED will be provided. Presenter: Dr. Rachel Heenan, Director of Special Education, CDE. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 11
1:30 to 1:45 p.m.
Agenda Building: Commissioners will suggest potential items for future ACSE meetings. Presenters: Commissioners, ACSE. (Item Type: Information, Discussion, Action)
Item 12
1:45 to 2 p.m.
General Public Comment: General public comment is invited on any matter, including items not on the agenda. The ACSE is precluded from discussing matters not on the agenda; however, questions may be asked by Commissioners for clarification purposes. Issues raised by the public may be referred to in a future meeting agenda. The chair reserves the right to establish time limits on presentations. (Item Type: Information)
Adjournment
2 to 2:15 p.m.
Adjournment of meeting