Self-Assessment

The purpose of the special education self-assessment is to assist Local Education Agency (LEA) leadership teams in evaluating and improving their educational program serving students with disabilities receiving special education services. The special education self-assessment is completed annually by all LEAs and is intended to engage leadership teams in proactively addressing special education compliance and support student performance.

LEAs are required to complete the 23 compliance/strategy areas.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the self-assessment will transition from the TEAL ASCEND application to the Special Education Performance Diagnostic (SPD). During the transition, LEAs will not be required to complete the self-assessment in the ASCEND application. Instead, LEAs are expected to review data, previous self-assessments, and strategic support plans (SSPs) to identify areas of growth and need. LEAs may utilize the 2024-2025 school year self-assessment resources below to lead conversations and document needs and progress. The SSP tool in ASCEND may be used to document the review and outline the LEA’s steps for continuous improvement.