This nine-session professional learning series is designed to enhance administrators’ knowledge, skills, and confidence in leading special education systems. Grounded in Iowa’s Administrator Evaluator Course content and aligned with the Council for Exceptional Children’s Professional Leadership Standards, the course provides a structured approach to understanding and applying key legal, instructional, and leadership responsibilities.

Participants will deepen their understanding of federal and state requirements, including Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), FAPE, and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), and examine how these requirements translate into effective systems and practices at the district and building levels. Through a systems lens, administrators will learn how to ensure procedural compliance while simultaneously strengthening instructional quality and student outcomes.

The course integrates Iowa’s Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) Framework, Diagnosis, Design and Delivery to support administrators in evaluating instructional effectiveness, guiding staff, and ensuring alignment between student needs, IEP development and service delivery. Participants will also build fluency in navigating Iowa’s ACHIEVE system as a tool for documenting, monitoring and ensuring the integrity of the special education process.

Key topics include Child Find, evaluation and eligibility, IEP development, behavioral supports (FBA/BIP), Extended School Year Services (ESYS), Alternate Assessment, LRE and Prior Written Notice (PWN). Administrators will also develop skills in facilitating compliant and collaborative IEP meetings, supporting staff through complex decision-making and fostering strong partnerships with families and multidisciplinary teams.

Using a flipped learning model, participants will engage in asynchronous learning to build foundational knowledge and participate in synchronous sessions focused on application, problem-solving and leadership practice. This course emphasizes translating knowledge into action, ensuring administrators are equipped to lead systems that are both compliant and instructionally strong.