FLDOE 2025 Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Parent Survey Now Available

The Florida Department of Education Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Parent Survey is open to all parents of children with an individual educational plan (IEP) receiving ESE services from preschool through grade 12. It is not intended for parents of students receiving only gifted services through an educational plan (EP). Students with disabilities aged 18 or older may complete this survey. The survey is available for completion until June 30, 2025. If you have more than one child with an IEP, please complete one survey for each child.  The survey can be accessed at 2025 ESE Parent Survey

Collaboration and Inclusion at Tohopekaliga High School 

Check out this collaborative effort between the Senior Digital Design students from the Graphic Design Agency and the Exceptional Students Education (ESE) Program at Tohopekaliga High School. This project was initiated to ensure that the students felt accepted and heard, allowing them to express themselves by writing about their lives as tigers. Each student shared their personal stories and created images that represented them, with guidance from the senior students throughout the design process. This wonderful collaboration between Ms. Zuk’s ESE Program and Ms. Mohess’s Senior Design Team has resulted in the students becoming published authors!!! 

Celebrating Love and Friendship at Liberty High School

Amazing things are happening at Liberty High School! Check out how they celebrated Valentine's Day!!!

ESE Happenings in February

Check out what's happening in the ESE Department in February...

https://secure.smore.com/n/5zuba

Safety Resources for Students with Disabilities

Student safety is a number one priority--on every campus and with every staff member throughout the district as well as in our communities and in our own homes. Sometimes, ensuring that all individuals are safe is challenging, especially if the individual is non-verbal, has a cognitive disability, or another health condition. As a result, Ms. Kacie Rosario from Neptune Middle School created a list of safety resources currently in place within Osceola County. This list was used to create the document below as well as the new links we have available on the Parent Toolkit page of our department webpage, which can be found at THIS LINK!

An Evening with the Agencies

When: Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 5:00-7:30 PM

Where: Gateway High School, 99 Panther Paws Way, Kissimmee, FL 34744

What is Evening With the Agencies? It's a chance to learn about community resources available for individuals with disabilities, financial aid, college, career training, supported living, and much more!  

Events, Activities, and More Happening in and Around Our Community 

Check out these amazing events and activities happening in and around our community! Make sure to click on each link to view the flyer for each event or activity!

New Year, New Me -Saturday, February 1st

Father-Daughter Dance "Emerald City" Saturday, February 15th

Movie and the Lakefront: Wicked -Friday, February 21st

A Community Day of Love -Saturday, February 22nd

2025 Community Resource Network Event -Tuesday, March 4th

There is something for everyone...

Toddler Open Gym

Mini Hoopers- Toddler Basketball

Homeschool Recreation

Homeschool Social Club

Chris Lyle Aquatic Center

Stepping Out Walking Club

Wednesday Free Movie Matinee at the Community Center

Baton Twirling and Dance

School-Related Employee of the Year

Congratulations to Justin Douglas - her peers selected her to be this year's School-Related Employee of the Year!

She was nominated by a peer who said: "Justin has gone above and beyond this year not only to guide me in my new role, but also taking on the jobs of two positions to fill a vacancy in our office. She continues to collaborate with not only the schools she is covering but all secondary schools to ensure she is able to meet the needs of as many staff and students as possible. She has shown exceptional skills related to covering her position and the vacancy she is filling, she has been able to communicate the needs of the staff in our office while fulfilling the (many) questions and needs that arise from our team."

Congratulations again!!!

Save the Date... Inclusive Knights 2025 Interactive Concert

When: April 8, 2025, at 11:00 AM
Where: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Steinmetz Hall
What: Inclusive Knights 2025 interactive concert for students on the spectrum, all ESE students, and the general public!
Why: Inclusive Knights is a concert that welcomes everyone. They engage the audience, teach about music, and allow for individual behaviors in a certified autism center.

The cost to attend is FREE!!

2024-2025 Parent Training/Workshop Schedule

We are excited about what the 2024-2025 school year has in store! Starting with these amazing Parent Training/Workshop opportunities being offered throughout the school year. Below is the schedule of tentative trainings/workshops being provided. If you don't see something you would like offered simply message Sarah.McKenney@osceolaschools.net and we will try to add your request. 

Family Inclusion Network (FIN) Statewide Family Series 2024-2025

Join the Florida Inclusion Network (FIN) for a series of statewide family sessions related to the best practices for supporting students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment (LRE).

For a complete list of sessions and corresponding links CLICK HERE

FREE Books and Reading Activities

New Worlds Scholarship Accounts Program

Effective July 1, 2023, the New Worlds Scholarship Accounts Program expanded eligibility to include public school students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 5 who:
have a substantial deficiency in either reading or mathematics;
exhibit characteristics of dyslexia or dyscalculia; or scored below a Level 3 on the statewide, standardized English Language Arts (ELA) or Mathematics assessment in the prior school year.

The eligible expenditures for reimbursement are: Instructional materials; curriculum; tuition and fees for part-time tutoring services; fees for specialized summer education programs designed to improve reading, literacy, or mathematics skills; and fees for after-school education programs designed to improve reading, literacy, or mathematics skills.

For more information on the scholarship please visit this
LINK

A partir del 1 de julio de 2023, el Programa de Cuentas de Becas Nuevos Mundos amplió la elegibilidad para incluir a estudiantes de escuelas públicas matriculados desde jardín de infantes hasta quinto grado que:
tener una deficiencia sustancial en lectura o matemáticas;
exhibir características de dislexia o discalculia; o obtuvo una puntuación inferior al Nivel 3 en la evaluación estandarizada estatal de Artes del Lenguaje Inglés (ELA) o Matemáticas en el año escolar anterior.

Los gastos elegibles para reembolso son: Materiales educativos; plan de estudios; matrícula y tarifas por servicios de tutoría a tiempo parcial; tarifas para programas educativos de verano especializados diseñados para mejorar las habilidades de lectura, alfabetización o matemáticas; y tarifas para programas de educación extraescolar diseñados para mejorar las habilidades de lectura, alfabetización o matemáticas.

Para obtener más información sobre la beca, visite esta ENLACE

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