Listserv News and Updates

What is ListServ (SELs/SELs2)?

February 2000, the Office of Special Education created the Special Education Listserv (SELS).  It has been and continues to be a limited e-mail group (with listserv being a misnomer since it really isn’t a listserv) available to only one contact person per school district/responsible public agency. It is used by the Office to disseminate important special education information concerning funding, compliance, data collection, professional development, etc. 

The Office has created a second e-mail group called SELs2.  This e-mail group is open to anyone wanting to subscribe (principals, teachers, parents, etc.). It will allow subscribers to receive the EXACT same messages as subscribers to SELs. By creating this second e-mail group, all constituents interested in special education will have the opportunity to receive the Office’s e-mail messages, not just one contact per school district/responsible public agency. It also allows DESE to maintain the ability to make sure that every district has at least one contact person per district receiving these messages. Messages are from DESE only and may only be posted by the manager (Lina Browner, Office of Special Education). Members may not post messages to either SELs or SELs2.

How Do I Subscribe?

Those interested in subscribing to SELs2 can do so by going to the following the links below. 

Questions or Problems Subscribing to SELs and/or needing to change SELs information, contact Lina Browner, Executive Assistant, Office of Special Education at (573) 751-5739 or via email at Lina.Browner@dese.mo.gov

SELs

SELs2

SELs Archives

Special Education Teacher Retention Tool Kit for Principals

Source: The Office of Special Education Programs -- U. S. Department of Education

Intended Audience: Principals, Special Education Directors, District Administrators

Date: January 16, 2025

Recruitment and retention of special education staff is one of the most challenging issues faced by public schools across Missouri. The Office of Special Education Programs at the U. S. Department of Education just introduced a technical assistance resource for building level administrators. This tool kit is designed to help principals recognize six of the most identified retention issues and provides a series of short-, mid-, and long-term strategies that can be implemented by leaders to address those challenges.

You can learn more information about this release on the Principal Navigator: Special Education Retention web page. For questions, please email seep@dese.mo.gov.

NEW! Eligibility Request System for State Board Operated Programs (MSB, MSD, MSSD)

Source: Mark Wheatley, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Special Education

Intended Audience: Directors of Special Education

Date: January 9, 2025

The Office of Special Education is pleased to announce that an Eligibility Request System has been created in order to facilitate student eligibility reviews for Missouri School for the Blind (MSB), Missouri School for the Deaf (MSD), and Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled (MSSD). Eligibility requests for the three schools will be entered by the LEAs in the Special Education IMACS 2 web application, accessed through the DESE web applications login at https://apps.dese.mo.gov/DESEApplicationsSignin. Should assistance be needed with completing an eligibility request, please contact the following:

Blind Literacy Survey 2025

Source: Seunghee Han, Special Education Data

Intended Audience: Superintendents, Directors, Principals, and Program Managers of Public or Private (Non-Profit) Schools, Charter Schools, or Agencies Serving Blind/Visually Impaired Students

Date: January 6, 2025

DESE is mandated to report to the Missouri Legislature the educational status of blind students. The Blind Literacy Survey, in part, is used to collect this information. To complete the Blind Literacy Survey, go to the following web address and follow the instructions: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BlindLiteracy2025.

Please note that districts/agencies should have already received information about this survey from Missouri School for the Blind as part of the annual Federal Quota Registration for American Printing House, Inc. The survey should only be submitted once by each district/agency. Submit the survey no later than January 31, 2025.

All districts should provide the following information regarding blind students ages 3 through 21 reported on the Federal Quota Registration (enrollment as of January 6, 2025).

The number of students who

1) Receive materials in Braille and Braille-related services,

2) Receive materials in Braille and Braille-related services BUT no longer receive Braille instruction, and

3) Use a slate and stylus or other Braille writing device.

If you experience any problems or have questions regarding this survey, please contact Seunghee Han at Seunghee.Han@dese.mo.gov. 

2025 Transition Training Institute – Facing the Future—Together – SAVE THE DATE!

Source: Office of Special Education

Intended Audience: Superintendents, Middle and High School Principals, Special Education Directors, General and Special Education Teachers, Counselors, School Psychologists, and Parents

Date: December 16, 2024

The 2025 Transition Training Institute will be held in-person June 25-27, 2025, in Columbia, MO, at the Holiday Inn Executive Center.

The institute will focus on programs and structures to support students in graduating and moving toward postsecondary goals. There will be a variety of presentations which will focus on compliance, transition assessments, transition to employment, independent living, postsecondary education, community relationships, instructional practices, use of technology, agency collaboration, and transition planning with an emphasis on students with special needs. Specific enrollment instructions and additional information will be provided later.

If you have questions, please contact Marsha Campe at 573-751-2512 or Marsha.Campe@dese.mo.gov.