Assistant Superintendent Sean McDonald gave a special education committee update at the Sept. 11 meeting, outlining completed work and next steps.

McDonald said the committee reviewed data including the district's 2024 parent survey for families of students with disabilities, relevant special-education law and governing board policy IHB, and state reports on parent involvement and performance. The committee recommended several staff- and family-facing actions.

Work completed and underway: the district provided professional development at the start of the school year focusing on IEPs, 504 plans, child find and evaluation/referral processes; security staff received training on working with students with disabilities; assistive-technology supports from the Arizona Assistive Technology Loan Library are in use; and the district special-education website was redesigned in July 2024.

Remaining priorities: McDonald said the committee will continue work on high-quality instruction, cultural competency and social-emotional supports, inclusion into general-education classes, effective transition practices and graduation requirements; the group may create a subcommittee to address graduation issues.

Board members asked for additional training on special-education law and IEP/504 procedures and McDonald agreed to provide that background to the board in a future presentation.

Quote: "We have looked at the 2024 Tempe Union High School parents survey... and we have just finished that as well as, looked at the spring 2024 ADE parent involvement ..." — Sean McDonald.

No votes were taken on this informational item.