District Compliance Specialists (DCSs) play a vital role in supporting Resource Compliance Specialists and school-based teams to ensure students with disabilities receive timely, compliant, and student-centered ESE services. They provide coaching, training, and technical assistance related to IDEA requirements, IEP development and implementation, evaluations, transfer placements, scheduling, and compliance monitoring. DCSs also collaborate closely with school teams and families, offering guidance and support to strengthen processes and improve outcomes for students across our schools.

Our amazing DCS Team consists of:

Fun Fact: I’ve been trained in unarmed combat & sword fighting. 

Fun Fact: She has a passion for home renovation and interior design and enjoys tackling projects that transform her home one room at a time. Her creativity and eye for design make every project a rewarding adventure.

Fun Fact: When not supporting schools, she enjoys spending time at the beach and is happiest near the water, especially along Florida's Gulf Coast. A devoted sea turtle enthusiast, she follows the journeys of rescued and released sea turtles through the Turtle Hospital in Key West.

Thank you to our District Compliance Specialists for their dedication to supporting schools, ensuring compliance, and helping students thrive! 🌟

HB 1279 amends s. 1003.5716, F.S., to require that if a related service identified in a student’s individual educational plan (IEP) is not provided as scheduled, local educational agencies (LEAs) must notify the parent or guardian in writing or by electronic means within 10 school days, explain the reason the service was not provided, and discuss a plan for make-up services.

Additionally, a parent or guardian has the right to access, upon request, all service provider logs or progress notes within 15 school days after such service is provided. The LEA must inform parents of this right at each IEP team meeting.

Our district has created a Parent Notification Letter that meets these requirements for the Related Service Therapists to complete when this occurs. FDOE/BEESS has provided guidance on informing the parents of their rights to service provider logs at each IEP meeting. All Resource Compliance Specialists and Related Service Therapists were trained on these procedures during pre-planning.  

We had an amazing start to the 2026-27 school year and were proud to support our hub schools during their opening days. With most of our team onsite for Days 1 and 2, we enjoyed connecting with schools and helping make the start of the year a success. Thank you for your patience and support during this exciting and busy time!

We hope you have seen in the SDOC: ESE Department & School Collaboration Teams that the links to the ESE Support Request Form and the Power BI are now available. On 8/6/26, final revisions were made with provisioning and automation of the initial workflow. It is now up and running! Please see a step-by-step guide for accessing the Support Request either in the Handbooks and Manuals Channel, or here: ​DESE Support Requests and PowerBI-Step By Step Guide.pdf​  

Each school's tiered level of support is listed below for each division within our department. We have also included a copy of the rubric utilized to determine each level of support. We look forward to supporting each of our schools.

Last year, DOE began moving to a new single-sign-on platform; however, it is our understanding that not all programs have moved. In ClassLink, there are 2 icons/apps for the Florida Department of Education. If you need to log in to PEER or report a restraint or seclusion incident, use the FDOE Portal icon. Below shows a picture of the two icons and identifies which icon/app to look for in Classlink when you log in.

Behavior Tip of the Week: Presenting Acceptable Choices and Think Time

Explanation: Acceptable choices are those that are appropriate for the settings and context and represents a functional replacement.

*Use clear language.

*Present the two choices.

*Allow time for decision making.

*If no choice is made, present the choices again.

Explanation: “Think Time” refers to the period of time that is required for the student to process the meaning of the directive and communicate their choice.

 

Implementation:

*Determine the student’s average processing time.

*Present the directive and/or choices.

*Wait the appropriate length of time.

*Prompt the student for his or her response.

*If no response is given, present the choices again.

*If the student communicates a choice, immediately delivered the selected option. 

The collaboration of public and private instructional personnel (PIP) shall be designed to enhance but not supplant the school district’s responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The school, as the local education agency, shall provide therapy services to meet the expectations provided in federal law and regulations and state statutes and rules. Collaboration of public and private instructional personnel will work to promote educational progress and assist students in acquiring essential skills, including, but not limited to, readiness for pursuit of higher education goals or employment. Where applicable, public and private instructional personnel shall undertake collaborative programming. Coordination of services and plans between a public school and private instructional personnel is encouraged to avoid duplication or conflicting services or plans.

For the purpose of implementing this subsection, a school district may not impose any requirements beyond those requirements specified in this subsection or charge any fees:

The provision of private instructional personnel by a parent does not constitute a waiver of the student’s or parent’s right to a free and appropriate public education under IDEA.

Help us highlight their impact!

Submit a staff shout-out recognizing someone who is:

⭐ Making a difference for students

⭐ Spreading positivity

⭐ Helping others shine

⭐ Going the extra mile

Your shout-out may be featured in an upcoming newsletter so we can continue celebrating the amazing people who are Lighting the Way across our department and district. Let’s keep the light shining bright! ✨🌟

Send shout outs to Sarah.McKenney@osceolaschools.net with the subject "Lighting the Way Shout Out"

The Bureau of Exceptional Student Education and Student Services (BEESS) Weekly Memo provides current action and informational items related to trainings, jobs, conferences, resources and other information relevant to students with disabilities. "The Buzz" can be accessed using this link: BEESS Weekly Memo and then simply click on the date for the corresponding week.

The contact information below has not yet been updated. Once a revised contact list is received, it will be shared.

Are you looking to strengthen your ability to meet the diverse needs of students with disabilities? The BEESS Portal to Professional Learning Alternatives (PLA) offers free, flexible, and high-quality online courses designed specifically for Florida teachers and paraprofessionals.

Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned educator, PLA courses provide:

Courses are developed by experts and supported by the Florida Department of Education’s Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS), ensuring content that is both relevant and impactful.

Explore offerings like:

Visit https://fl-pla.org to register and start learning today. Your growth supports student success!

FIN collaborates with all districts, schools, and IDEA- funded state projects to provide customized services and supports ensuring all students with disabilities have the same educational, social, and future opportunities as their peers.

The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) is a statewide network of support for families, educators, and school districts, working together to help every child with a disability reach their full potential.

Through a network of Associate Centers across the state, FDLRS offers high-quality services, training, and resources to families and school personnel in every Florida school district. Whether you’re a parent seeking support, a teacher looking for professional learning, or a district leader supporting Exceptional Student Education (ESE) programs , FDLRS is here to help.

FDLRS provides:

Do you have amazing events and activities happening on your campuses? Let us help you share the wonderful things you are doing. Please send pictures and a brief description of the events and activities to Sarah McKenney at Sarah.McKenney@osceolaschools.net

Check out these amazing photos from our departments "Welcome Back" event from last Monday.

Elementary Program Specialists facilitated "Welcome Back" professional learning for PreK & ACCESS teachers!!

For the first two days of school, nearly our entire ESE Department was out in schools across the district, providing support, collaborating with staff, and helping ensure a successful opening for students and families.

The photos below are from Denn John Middle School, where our team had the opportunity to work alongside dedicated educators and staff as they welcomed students back for a new year of learning.

A huge thank you to all of our schools for welcoming our team and partnering with us as we "Light the Way" for the 2026-2027 school year. We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to continuing to support our students, families, and school communities.

#LightTheWay #ESE #BackToSchool #Teamwork #StudentSuccess #20262027SchoolYear

Full pdf of schedule in attachments