The Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) at the Florida Department of Education (FDOE)  has split into two bureaus:  the Bureau of Exceptional Student Education (BESE) and the Bureau of Student Support Services (BoSSS).  This is why courses formerly listed as "BEESS PD Portal" will now be referred to as "BESE PD Portal."  

Did you know you can subscribe to everything on our FDLRS Emerald Coast calendar?  The calendar of professional development and parent supports is located on the "About" tab.  Look for the RSS feed at the upper right of the calendar section (looks like a gray broadcast icon), and click.  Click on the first option, "All public calendars on this page."  Follow the prompt that fits your need, and everything posted to the calendar will automatically download to your device!  Keep what is of interest, and delete the rest.  Or, you are welcome to visit this page frequently to see what is being offered that may be of interest to you.  

For questions regarding ESE inservice points requirements for teachers,  please visit the ESE and 40-point Reading Requirement link found on the PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT page. 

Of special interest:  The 40-point courses offered by FDLRS to satisfy that reading requirement will ALSO satisfy the ESE 20-point requirement!

The Florida House of Representatives has partnered with Age of Learning to bring free access to its online digital library to EVERY Florida child, regardless of age, income, or reading level, from now through 12/31/2021.  To take advantage of this initiative,  visit the Reading IQ website and create a free account.  Happy reading!

Parents:  Click this link to go directly to the LRP Special Ed Connection subscription site for parents:  https://bit.ly/LRPRegister.

Teachers or District Staff:  Your school district's ESE Department can assist with the process for obtaining a subscription at their discretion.  

Parents, we now have a HELP DESK, just for you! 

Have questions about your child's IEP?  How to approach a school or district with any concerns?  Need ideas on how to help develop literacy, manage behavior, use assistive or instructional technologies? 

Call us at (850) 469-5423, or 1-888-445-9662 and press "4."  Please be prepared to leave a message with your phone number in the event we are out of the office on other business when you call.  We are a "safe place" to ask whatever you want to; we are happy to help!

Did you know?  FDLRS has a Production Lab available to any teacher or parent working with students with disabilities and students served in gifted education programs.  Instructional-use materials only may be made in the lab specific for use with students with current individual education plans (IEPs) and educational plans (EPs).  

Equipment in the lab includes pouch and roll laminators, book binder machines (uses plastic spiral bindings), large and small paper cutters, Ellison die cut machines (large and small), and limited working space.  Poster board and construction paper, velcro, colored file folders, a bolt of black felt, and rolls of colored bulletin board paper are available for creating materials in the lab.  All materials created must be completed in the lab.  Supplies cannot be removed from the lab for later use.   

A copy machine is available for use in copying non-copyrighted instructional materials for use with students with disabilities and students who are gifted.  Customers must bring their own 24 lb. paper (the machines jam on lighter-weight papers).  

A laptop station with Boardmaker is available on-demand during center operating hours.  If assistance is needed with using the Boardmaker program, please contact Catie Andrews, candrews2@ecsdfl.us or 850-469-5545, or call the center main line, 850-469-5423, to make a reservation.  

Receive information directly to your social media feed!  "Like" FDLRS Emerald Coast on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter:  @FDLRS_EmeraldC.  

Virtual Instruction Using Google Tools

A great resource for virtual instruction with links to many Google products and how to use them.  Access this resource HERE.

FIN Collaborative Teaching Virtual Instruction Tips

With shifts to virtual instruction, teachers in collaborative partnerships will likely encounter challenges in providing co-teaching or support facilitation models to students with disabilities.  This Tip Sheet provides a framework to assist teachers in making adjustments to their instruction to continue collaborative efforts.