District outlines ESE audit response: centralized FOCUS dashboard, weekly certifications and summer training summit
Summary
District leaders described actions taken after an RSM audit of exceptional student education, including a centralized FOCUS dashboard, weekly certification checks, quarterly sampling audits and a June 2026 ESE summit; board members pressed for parent visibility and training for long-term substitutes.
Lee County Schools presented its response to RSM audit observations on exceptional student education (ESE) at the Dec. 1 workshop, laying out system and staffing changes intended to improve documentation, oversight and fidelity of accommodations.
Chief Academic Officer Nathan Shaker and Senior Director Rachel Gould said the district implemented a centralized system in FOCUS to integrate IEP data, provider logs and attendance records and to enable weekly certification that accommodations were provided. Gould described new reporting tools: a principal’s weekly accommodations report and a FOCUS SharePoint site with instructions and training videos.
To strengthen oversight, the district said regional directors now coordinate with staffing specialists and will conduct quarterly sampling audits (10 schools per quarter). The district also has produced a handbook and SOPs, plans ongoing trainings and announced an ESE-focused summer summit June 3–5, 2026.
Board members asked how parents will know daily that accommodations were provided; district staff said parent-facing portal options will be explored after back-end stability and teacher routines are established and noted that parents also receive progress reports and IEP meetings currently.
No formal board action took place; the presentation was informational and staff said they will continue to refine tools and communication strategies.
