Exceptional Student Education
The Bureau of Exceptional Student Education administers programs for students with disabilities. Additionally, the bureau coordinates student services throughout the state and participates in multiple inter-agency efforts designed to strengthen the quality and variety of services available to students with special needs.
Our Mission
The mission of exceptional student education in Florida, a committed alliance for the development of the unique gifts of each exceptional person, is to ensure the achievement of each and every individual's extraordinary purpose by expanding opportunities through collaboration of families, professionals, and communities who guarantee the highest expectations and individual success.
For easier site navigation, please make use of our new BEESS Website Map (PDF).
Topics of Special Interest
- https://tiescenter.org/resource/r8/67WB1STAKZfZD_KV47cg
- http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/19861/urlt/COVID-19Logistics.pdf
- http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/19861/urlt/FDOE-COVID-QAl.pdf
- Virtual Webinars Recordings for Parents and Educators
- FDLRS NEFEC Tier II & Tier III Instruction During COVID 19
- BEESS Discretionary Projects Virtual Instruction Resources
- U.S. Department of Education Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak (PDF)
- U.S. Department of Education Student Privacy Policy Office FERPA & Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)(PDF)
- U.S. Department of Education Releases Webinar, Fact Sheet for Protecting Students’ Civil Rights During COVID-19 Response
- U.S. Department of Education Fact Sheet: Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Schools While Protecting the Civil Rights of Students (PDF)
- U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Fact Sheet Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities
- For Parents: The FDLRS Child Find has created a video that helps parents determine when it is appropriate to schedule a screening due to developmental concerns. Please view the video here: http://www.fdlrs.org/child-find/cfvideos
- Accommodations: Assisting Students with Disabilities (2018) (PDF): Help teachers and parents make decisions about accommodations for students with disabilities. Four categories of accommodations are identified along with numerous examples. There are strategies to help teachers and students implement and monitor the impact of accommodations for classroom instruction and assessment.
- Annual State Application for IDEA, Part B - FY 2020 (PDF): In order to receive a grant under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), states must submit an application annually. The public participation requirements relevant to Part B are set forth in the Part B regulations at 34 CFR 300.165 and in section 441(b)(7) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA). States are required to make the Part B Application available to the public for a period of 60 days, and accept comments for a period of at least 30 days. Florida’s Part B Application will be available to the public from March 4, 2020 through May 3, 2020. Comments will be accepted through April 3, 2020 and may be submitted in writing to the IDEA Program Manager, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 614, Tallahassee, Florida 32399; via email to the IDEA grant mailbox IDEAGrant@fldoe.org or via fax at 850-245-0953. For the benefit of the public interest, the application will be available for public viewing after the posted end dates.
- FFY 2017 Part B State Performance Plan (SPP)/ Annual Performance Report (APR)