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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.
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Join the webinars on Zoom using passcode 431127. No registration is required. The link remains the same each session.
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The time for all webinars in the Policy & Practice Webinar Series is 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
- Nov. 12, 2025: Secondary Transition (with Work-based Learning content) and Four Plus Programming - Explore how administrators can strengthen compliance with the IDEA’s transition requirements while also improving postsecondary outcomes for students with IEPs. The webinar will highlight strategies that connect your school’s existing infrastructure with high-quality transition services and proven predictors of postschool success. By aligning compliance efforts with student-centered practices administrators can ensure that students leave high school prepared for success as lifelong learners, colleagues and community members.
- 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
- Oct. 8, 2025: Accessible Educational Materials and Assistive Technology on the IEP - Provides an overview of assistive technology (AT) and accessible educational materials (AEM) in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Participants will gain an understanding of the concepts, policy and case law that shape the use of AT and AEM in schools. The session highlights essential components to include in the IEP, offers practical examples across disciplines and emphasizes accurate documentation to support student success. The webinar is organized into three sections: access and participation, policy guidance, and practical guidance for AT and AEM within ACHIEVE, with opportunities for participant questions.
- Sept. 10, 2025: ACHIEVE and General Supervision - Provides a reminder of how the state ensures the implementation of IDEA through its general supervision responsibilities, including duties to prevent, inform, inspect, detect, and correct. Describes the ACHIEVE reports the state regularly pulls as part of general supervision. Also shares information about Prior Written Notice (PWN) and its role in supporting an effective general supervision system. Oct. 1 note: The slides for this webinar have been updated with minor revisions. Refer to the linked slides for the most up to date version. We are also updating the ACHIEVE "Overdue IEP" report to reflect IEPs being overdue when the meeting roll call has not been finalized before the end of the previous IEP, not when the IEP is finalized (as discussed on the webinar). This note will be updated once the change to the report has been made.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Oct. 30, 2024: Considerations for Exiting - One Data Point is not Enough