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, April 15, 2026 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time ± |
California Department of Education |
| Thursday, April 16, 2026 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 15‒16, 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, April 10, 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, April 15, 2026, 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
- Review of Agenda: Day One
- Accessibility
- Review of Public Comment Options
- Communications and Announcements
- Swearing in of Commissioners
Item 1
10:15 to 11 a.m.
Special Olympics: Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® builds on Special Olympics’ values, principles, practices, experiences and impacts to shape a generation that welcomes everyone. Athlete Cristhian Orellana will share how his Unified Champion Schools experience was a catalyst for his personal and professional growth. Presenters: Heather Jones, Vice Principal, School and Youth Services; Cristhian Orellana, Special Olympics Northern California Athlete Leader; Paul O'Brien, Senior Manager, Schools Partnership Program and Claire Ramaley, Senior Manager, Schools Partnership Program (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 2
11 to 11:45 a.m.
WarmLine Family Resource Center and Family Empowerment Center: Supporting families raising children in Special Education and Beyond. WarmLine is a non-profit organization supporting families raising children in Special Education providing services in Sacramento, Yolo, El Dorado, Alpine, Nevada, and Placer counties. As a Family Empowerment Center, WarmLine will highlight current offerings on the Special Education process, the individualized education program document and Alternative Dispute Resolution best practices. This presentation will also touch on the importance of collaborations in the community and the impact it makes on the parent's voice in creating successful relationships between families and professionals in the field. Presenter: Linda Hernandez, Executive Director Warmline Family Resource Center and Family Empowerment Center (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Lunch
11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Item 3
1 to 1:15 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 4
1:15 to 2 p.m.
Placer County Office of Education: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in early childhood education (ECE) creates inclusive environments where children, educators, and teacher candidates learn alongside one another. Through intentionally designed spaces, flexible materials, and responsive teaching, everyone in the classroom participates in meaningful and accessible learning experiences. Practicum students are not just observers, but active members of the learning community, engaging with children and educators in ways that reflect collaboration and shared discovery. Together, they explore multiple ways to communicate, problem-solve, and express understanding, reinforcing that learning is dynamic and interconnected. This collective approach highlights how UDL strengthens not only outcomes for children, but also the development of reflective, responsive future educators. Presenters: Daniel Mendoza, Program Manager ECE Placer County Office of Education and Ella Kiernan, Sierra College Student Class of 2026. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 5
2 to 2:45 p.m.
Annual State Application Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): The Special Education Division will provide an update on the status of the preliminary application for federal fiscal year 2026 funding under the IDEA. Presenter: Nora Parella, Education Administrator, CDE, SED. (Item type: Information, discussion)
Break
2:45 to 3 p.m.
Item 6
3 to 3:30 p.m.
Committee Study Session (Legislation and Policy): In accordance with the ACSE bylaws, the Legislation and Policy Committee will meet. Presenters: Commissioners, ACSE. (Item Type: Information, Discussion, Action)
Item 7
3:30 to 4 p.m.
Committee Study Session (Operations and Planning): In accordance with the ACSE bylaws, the Operations and Planning Committee will meet. Presenters: Commissioners, ACSE. (Item Type: Information, Discussion, Action)
Item 8
4 to 4:30 p.m.
Committee Study Session (Impact Award): In accordance with the ACSE bylaws, the ACSE Impact Award Committee will meet. Presenters: Commissioners, ACSE. (Item Type: Information, Discussion, Action)
Item 9
4:30 to 4:45 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)
Adjournment
4:45 to 5 p.m.
Adjournment of meeting, day one.
Advisory Commission on Special Education
Thursday, April 16, 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 10
9:15 to 9:45 a.m.
Commissioner Liaison Report: An update from Commissioner Liaisons. Presenters: ACSE Commissioners. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 11
9:45 to 10:15 a.m.
State Board of Education Liaison Report: An update from State Board of Education (SBE) Liaison. Presenter: Alison Yoshimoto-Towery, SBE. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Break
10:15 to 10:30 a.m.
Item 12
10:30 to 11 a.m.
Director of State Special Schools Liaison Report: An update from Director of State Special Schools (SSS) Liaison will be provided. Presenter: Nancy Hlibok Amann, SSS. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 13
11 to 11:30 a.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)
Lunch
11:30 a.m to 1 p.m.
Item 14
1 to 1:15 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 15
1:15 to 2 p.m.
The University of California|California State University (UC|CSU) Collaborative for Neuroscience, Diversity, and Learning: This presentation provides an overview of the UC|CSU Collaborative for Neuroscience, Diversity, and Learning’s efforts to build a statewide infrastructure that connects research, educator preparation, and policy, while delivering scalable professional learning through the Arraya Learning resource hub in partnership with California’s Statewide System of Support. This presentation will also discuss the implementation of Senate Bill 939 (2023–24), which, in part, charges the UC|CSU Collaborative with providing resources to all local educational agencies to address bullying of students with learning disabilities and/or who are neurodivergent. Presenters: Jennie Grammer, PhD – Associate Professor, University of California, Los Angeles School of Education and Information Studies; UC Faculty Director, UC|CSU Collaborative and Kate Esposito, PhD – Professor, CSU Dominguez Hills; Chair, Special Education Department; CSU Faculty Director, UC|CSU Collaborative. (Item Type: Information, Discussion)
Item 16
2 to 2:30 p.m.
Agenda Building: Commissioners will suggest potential items for future ACSE meetings. Presenters: Commissioners, ACSE. (Item Type: Information, Discussion, Action)
Item 17
2:30 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 3:15 p.m.
Adjournment of meeting