Most CDE offices will be closed for the holidays beginning Dec. 23. All offices will reopen on Jan. 2, 2025.
You are here
Office of Special Education
About the Office of Special Education
This office administers both the state's Exceptional Children's Educational Act (ECEA) and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for children with disabilities. This website is a resource for teachers, administrators, and parents of students with exceptional educational needs due to disability, or learners who are culturally and/or linguistically diverse or have some other special need. The Office of Special Education is one of three offices within the Exceptional Student Services Unit (along with the Office of Facility Schools and the Office of Gifted Education).
Stay Up To Date
AU Special Education Director of Record and Fiscal Contact Information
ESSU must have current contact information for all state-level Special Education Directors and Special Education Fiscal Contacts. Our office communicates important updates and information through our listserv, please be sure that we have accurate, updated information. Communications from this listserv will come from CDE_SPED.
ESSU Newsletter
The ESSU e-newsletter is our office's primary form of communication with the field. It is published once a month and contains information from the Office of Gifted and Talented, Office of Facility Schools, and Office of Special Education.
Quick Links
- Find Your Special Education Director
- Topic Index - alphabetical list of areas within the Office of Special Education
- Guidance Documents
- Technical Assistance Documents
Ways to Search this Site
- You can use the Google Search box (only searches CDE) at the top right side of the webpage and type in what you are looking for.
- You can use our Topic Index - an alphabetical list of topics for the Office of Special Education.
Having trouble with this webpage?
If you have problems with broken links or accessing the content on this page, please contact the Exceptional Student Services Unit at ESSU@cde.state.co.us. Please copy the URL link for this page into the email when referencing the problem you are experiencing.
Connect With Us