This year’s theme of “Paraeducators, The Link to Meaningful Connection” is more relevant than ever!  The focus of the conference is how to create and maintain social-emotional connections with students.  The breakout sessions are relevant for Paraeducators that work with  Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, and High School students. These breakout sessions cover a variety of topics Social Emotional Learning, Personal Care Development and Care, Literacy, and Math. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Aria Fiat. Dr. Fiat received her doctoral degree in School Psychology and holds a B.S. degree in Education and Social Policy. She specializes in culturally-responsive therapeutic interventions, universal mental health promotion programs, integrated behavioral healthcare, risk and resilience. Her current research centers around improving capacity for schools to deliver culturally-responsive mental health prevention and intervention programs. She works to cultivate resilience in children, educators, parents, and systems by integrating various therapeutic modalities and adapting them to fit the school context.

Contact Information: Theresa Hayes (theresa.hayes@nebraska.gov) or Rhea Hochstein (rhea.hochstein@nebraska.gov

Special Education Financial Reporting System (SPEDFRS) will open September 1, 2020 – October 31 @ midnight.  Join Zoom Meeting – scheduled for Tuesday, September 01, 2020 @ 10:00 -10:30 a.m. Central Standard Time (https://educationne.zoom.us/j/4024712637); Meeting ID: 402 471 2637 (to be recorded)

This submission generates reimbursement payments for School Age Special Education and Transportation costs. This data collection is accessible through the NDE Portal under the Data Collections tab.  (An Activation Code is required to add the collection to the Portal accounts.)

• NDE Portal at https://portal.education.ne.gov/Site/DesktopDefault.aspx
• User Manual includes “New Features” by section:  https://cdn.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SPEDFRS_UserManual.pdf
• 2019-2020 Special Education Reporting System (SPEDFRS) Presentation 08/25/2020 (VIDEO) (PDF)
• Special Education (SPED) Reporting Information website for additional SPED information:   https://www.education.ne.gov/fos/special-education-reporting-information/
• Annual Financial Report (AFR)– District Reporting https://www.education.ne.gov/fos/annual-financial-report-school-district/

Contact Information: For Portal Data Entry Questions: NDE Helpdesk (ADVISERHelp@nebraskacloud.org) For Financial Questions: Lori Adams (lori.adams@nebraska.gov)

Public School Districts, Special Purpose Schools and ESU’s Only

ILCD 3.0 – Improving Learning for Children with Disabilities – Indicators 11 and 12

Reminder to enter your Indicator 11 and Indicator 12 data on ILCD 3.0 by September 30.  The ILCD 3.0 Improving Learning for Children with Disabilities is located in the NDE Portal under the Data Collections tab.  (An Activation Code from the District Administrator is required to access the collection.)

Indicator 11 is the number of children ages 3-21 who were evaluated within 45 school days of receiving parental consent for initial evaluation.  Indicator 12 is the number of children for whom parental refusal to provide consent caused delays in evaluation or initial services.

Indicator 11 requires the district to enter letters A-D and provide a range of days beyond the 45 school day timeline when applicable.  If applicable, the instances of exceeding the 45 days must be explained case by case in the spaces provided or through an uploaded document.

Indicator 12 requires the district to enter letter D, the Number of children for whom parental refusal to provide consent caused delays in evaluation or initial services.

Contact Information: Robyn Okamoto (robyn.okamoto@nebraska.gov or (402) 471-4341)