Advisory Commission on Special Education Members
- David Toston, Chair
Victoria Graf, Vice Chair (attending virtually 4/17 and 4/18) - Elizabeth Estes
Dawn Hamilton (attending virtually 4/17 and 4/18) - Betty Lieu
April Lopez (attending virtually 4/17 and 4/18) - Russell Michaud
Sarah Notch (attending virtually 4/17 and 4/18)
Christine Oyakawa
Gloria Ruiz (attending virtually 4/17 and 4/18)
Heather Snipes
Barbara Sorter (attending virtually 4/17 and 4/18)
Jeannine Topalian (attending virtually 4/17 and 4/18) - Matthew Wilkins
Student Members
- Rachael Ding
- Saran Tugsjargal
Legislative Members
- Honorable Marie Alvarado-Gil, 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
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, April 17, 2024 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time ± |
California Department of Education |
| Thursday, April 18, 2024 9 a.m. to 3 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 April 17‒18, 2024, 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 in order 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, April 12, 2024. 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 April 17‒18, 2024, 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.
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, April 17, 2024, 10 a.m. Pacific Time ±
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, California
Begin Meeting
10 to 10:15 a.m. Pacific Time ±
- Call to Order: Roll Call
- Salute to the American Flag
- Communications and Announcements
- Swearing in of Commissioner
- Review of Agenda: Day One
- Review of Public Comment Options
Item 1
10:15 to 11 a.m.
High-Quality Individualized Education Programs Project: The High-Quality Individualized Education Programs (HQ IEPs) project is a special education resource lead within the Statewide System of Support that began in July 2023. HQ IEPs' leadership will provide information on the project’s vision, logic model and progress towards building the capacity of families, educators, and students. Resources, upcoming professional development opportunities, and future goals will also be shared. Presenters: Heather DiFede, Co-Executive Director of the HQ IEPs project and Executive Director, East County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), Leo Mapagu, Co-Executive Director of the HQ IEPs project and Executive Director, Santa Clara County SELPAs, and Dr. Jennifer Yales, Executive Consultant for the HQ IEPs project. (Item type: Information, Discussion)
Item 2
11 to 11:45 a.m.
Alternative Pathways to a Diploma: The Alternative Diploma Pathway, described under California Education Code 51225.31, is for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities and whose individualized education program (IEP) teams have determined that they are eligible for the California Alternate Assessment. Heather DiFede will provide background information, current updates, and next steps needed to support statewide implementation. Presenter: Heather DiFede, Executive Director, East County SELPA. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 3
11:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.
State Board of Education: An update from State Board of Education (SBE) Liaison. Presenter: Alison Yoshimoto-Towery (SBE) (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Lunch
12 to 1 p.m.
Item 4
1 to 1:05 p.m.
General Public Comment: General public comment is invited on any matter including items not on the agenda. The Advisory Commission on Special Education (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 5
1:05 to 1:50 p.m.
Community Engagement Initiative: The presentation will highlight how the Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) enhances student outcomes by fostering trust and dialogue within communities. It will cover effective engagement models, forging partnerships between districts and county education offices, and expanding successful practices for broader statewide impact in community schools. Presenters: Erin Mahoney, Senior Director, Community Schools, San Diego County Office of Education and Steven Sterling Mitchell, Assistant Director, Community Engagement and System of Support, California Collaborative for Educational Excellence. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 6
1:50 to 2:35 p.m.
California Early Childhood Special Education Network: The California Early Childhood Special Education Network (CalECSE) project aims to enhance outcomes for California’s youngest children with disabilities across agencies by removing obstacles to successful educational transitions, assessments, and programming access. This presentation will cover the project’s integrated approach, emphasizing technical support, professional growth, and the demonstration of effective strategies to facilitate smooth transitions, precise assessments, and the use of evidence-based practices. Presenters Scott Turner, Ed.D., CalECSE Co-Executive Director and Melanie Hertig, CalECSE Co-Executive Director. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Break
2:35 to 2:50 p.m.
Item 7
2:50 to 3:35 p.m.
State Special Education Local Plan Area Association: This presentation will offer an overview of the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) Administrators of California's initiatives and update on the organization's priorities to improve educational access and opportunities for students with disabilities. Presenters: Elizabeth Engelken, Executive Director of Sonoma County SELPA/Sonoma County Charter SELPA and Chair of SELPA Administrators of California and Scott Turner, Ed.D., Executive Director of East San Gabriel Valley SELPA and Chair-Elect of SELPA Administrators of California. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 8
3:35 to 4:20 p.m.
Bagley-Keene: The CDE Legal Division will lead a training on the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. Presenter: Sarah Bancroft, Deputy General Counsel, CDE. (Item type: Information, Discussion)
Item 9
4:20 to 4:45 p.m.
Commissioners and Director of State Special Schools Liaison Reports: An update from Commissioner Liaisons and Director of State Special Schools (SSS) Liaison will be provided. Presenters: Commissioners (ASCE), Nancy Hilbok Amann (SSS). (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 10
4:45 to 4:55 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
5 p.m.
Adjournment of meeting, day one.
Advisory Commission on Special Education
Thursday, April 18, 2024, 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
- Review of Public Comment Options
- Communications and Announcements
Item 11
9:15 to 10 a.m.
Systems Improvement Leads Update: The System Improvement Leads (SIL) team will provide an update on their statewide Networked Improvement Communities focused on improving outcomes for students with disabilities. Representatives from one of the participating teams, Clovis Unified School District, will share how they have leveraged the network to accelerate their local improvement efforts and make meaningful change for students, staff, and families. Presenters: Leah Davis, Executive Director, Riverside County SELPA, Heidi Hata, SIL Director, El Dorado County Office of Education, Beverley Jenkins, Project Coordinator, El Dorado County Office of Education, Theresa Pafford, Administrator, SELPA and Legal Compliance, Clovis Unified School District, Carrie Carter, PhD, Administrator, Special Education, Clovis Unified School District, and Kristen Hatton, Assistant Director, Special Education, Clovis Unified School District. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 12
10 to 10:45 a.m.
Office of Youth and Community Restoration: Positive Youth Justice: From Punishment to Accountability and Healing: This presentation will focus on how Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) is guiding the transition from state-run youth incarceration to county care by identifying and sharing best practices to help inform rehabilitative and restorative youth support and offering technical assistance to advise those in the space on how to achieve outcomes and system improvements for youth across the justice system. Presenters: Katherine Lucero, Director OYCR and Michael M. Massa, Education Subject Matter Expert, OYCR. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Break
10:45 to 11 a.m.
Item 13
11 to 11:45 a.m.
Assembly Bill 2173: Reducing Stigma in Education Act: Assembly Bill (AB) 2173 makes the term ‘emotional disability’ an acceptable statutory alternative to the existing ‘emotional disturbance’ label in California’s Education code and regulations. Presenter: Veronica Coates, Assistant Superintendent, Tehama County SELPA/Department of Education. (Items Type: Information, Discussion, Action)
Item 14
11:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Special Education Director’s Report: An update on activities within the Special Education Division will be provided. Presenter: Sarah Neville-Morgan, Deputy Superintendent and Rachel Heenan, Director of Special Education, (CDE). (Item Type: Information, Discussion, Action)
Lunch Break
12 to 1 p.m.
Item 15
1 to 1:05 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 16
1:05 to 2:30 p.m.
Committee Study Sessions (Elections/Legislative-Policy/Bylaws/Operations/Goal): The committee co-chairs will facilitate discussions, provide updates, review materials, and formulate recommendations for the commission in their respective areas of responsibility. Presenter: Commissioners. (Item Type: Information, Discussion, Action)
Item 17
2:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Committee Reports and Agenda Building: Commissioners will suggest potential items for future ACSE meetings. (Item Type: Information, Discussion, Action)
Item 18
2:45 to 3 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
3 to 3:10 p.m.
Adjournment of meeting