Policy & Practice Webinar Series & Recordings

The webinars in this series highlight important and emerging special education policies and how to apply them within Iowa schools. Participants will also have opportunities to ask questions with team members from the Department's Division of Special Education.

Join Us & Tell a Friend

Join the webinars on Zoom using passcode 431127. No registration is required. The link remains the same each session.

Upcoming Dates & Topics

• Sept. 10, 2025:  ACHIEVE and General Supervision - Provides a reminder of how the state ensures implementation of IDEA through its general supervision responsibilities, including duties to prevent, inform, inspect, detect and correct. Participants will also learn about ACHIEVE reports the state will regularly pull as part of general supervision. In addition, information will be shared about Prior Written Notice (PWN) and its role in an effective general supervision system.
• Oct. 8, 2025:  Accessible Educational Materials and Assistive Technology on the IEP
• Nov. 12, 2025:  Secondary Transition (with Work-based Learning content) and Four Plus Programming
• Dec. 10, 2025:  Unique Placements (Out-of-State and Residential, PMIC)
• Jan. 14, 2026: Behavior and Discipline
• Feb. 11, 2026: Connecting Alternate Assessment (DLM) to Instruction & Licensure
• March 11, 2026:  Extended School Year (ESY)
• April 8, 2026: FAPE - Special Requests
• May 13, 2026: Dispute Resolution
• June 10, 2026: End of Year Program Evaluation (ACHIEVE) and Year-to-Year Data Comparison

Previous Webinar Recordings & Materials

• May 14, 2025: Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) - Learn about the meaning of a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), especially digging into the concept of appropriate. We will identify the things to look for and to consider when determining what is a FAPE for a learner. Connections will also be made between prior webinar content and the concept of FAPE.
  • Free Appropriate Public Education Webinar PowerPoint
• April 9, 2025: Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) - Explores policies and practices related to LRE in special education. The presentation will focus on gaining an understanding of what is meant by LRE, discuss common misunderstandings, share strategies for administrators for monitoring and implementing LRE, and relevant case law examples.
  • Least Restrictive Environment Webinar PowerPoint
  • Checklist for Discussing and Determining LRE
• Feb. 12, 2025: Designing Behavior Instruction and Supports for Learners with Disabilities - Provides information on the updated OSEP guidance on using FBAs to create supportive learning environments. Information on reintegration plans will be provided as a follow-up from participant questions in the May 14 session. Panelists shared considerations for leadership when creating a reintegration plan with respect to the IEP and current behaviors.
  • Designing Behavior Instruction and Supports for Learners with Disabilities PowerPoint
• Jan. 15, 2025: General Supervision
  • General Supervision PowerPoint
  • General Supervision Quick Reference for Administrators - Contains examples of general supervision duties for building administrators.
• Dec. 11, 2024: Shortened School Days: Smart Use in Special Education
  • Shortened School Day: Smart Use in Special Education PowerPoint
  • Checklist for Medically Necessary Shortened School Day
  • Checklist for Homebound Instruction
  • Checklist When IEP Teams Consider a Shortened School Day for Non-Medical Reasons
• Oct. 30, 2024: Considerations for Exiting - One Data Point is not Enough
  • Considerations for Exiting - One Data Point is not Enough Webinar PowerPoint
  • Exiting Eligible Individuals Who Are Proficient: Considerations for IEP Teams