Exceptional Student Education

The Exceptional Students Education (ESE) Department is part of Student Intervention Services. The department oversees the implementation of policies and procedures related to Florida statutes or State Board of Education rules affecting programs for exceptional students, including gifted students. Specifically, the department works with schools and parents to ensure that students with disabilities and gifted students receive the appropriate educational opportunities and related services through the IEP and/or EP process.

The ESE Parent Survey opens February 1 and will be available online until May 31, 2020. 
The web address for the survey is http://www.esesurvey.com.

FDLRS Early Childhood Training for Parents and Teachers

OCSD Exceptionally Talented Abilities Show

Okaloosa County School District is hosting its first annual exceptional education talent show, the Exceptionally Talented Abilities Show! Entries will be accepted during the month of October for students who have an Individual Education Plan as we celebrate Disability History and Awareness Weeks. For information on participating in this show, please see the OCSD Exceptionally Talented Abilities Show webpage.

ESE Parent Advisory Council

• 2020 ESE Parent Advisory Council Core Membership Team

Meeting Dates for 2020

• January 7, 2020: 5:30-6:30 PM
• April 7, 2020: 5:30-6:30 PM
• September 22, 2020: 5:30-6:30 PM
  • September 22 - Meeting (video)
• November 3, 2020: 5:30-6:30 PM

Links and Resources

• ESE Student Services 2020 School Reopening FAQ (7.14.20)  /  Espanol
• Acronyms in Exceptional Student Education
• ESE Matriculation Process
• ESE Placement and Program Options
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Gifted Students
• Hospital/Homebound Program
• OCSD LRE Checklist Template
• OCSD Response to FLDOE's On-Site Visit
• Records Request
• Student Intervention Services
• Transition Services
• Transportation Department
• Child Find Brochure
  • Road through Child Find

Informational Video Links

• Welcome
  • Please take this brief survey after watching the video
• Diploma Options
  • Please take this brief survey after watching the video
• Transition
  • Please take this brief survey after watching the video
• Child Find
  • Please take this brief survey after watching the video

Documents and Forms

• McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
• Military Compact
• Notice of Procedural Safeguards for Parents of Students w/Disabilities
• Notice of Procedural Safeguards for Parents of Students w/Disabilities (Other Languages)
• Okaloosa BPIE
• PKD ESE Parent Handbook  /  Espanol
• SP&P - ESE Student Policies and Procedures 2018-2019 through 2020-2021
• Transportation Flyer

Manuals

• Quality Individual Educational Plans (QIEP)
• Matrix
• Accommodations

Additional ESE Resources

• Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS)
• Autism
  • Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD)
  • FSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD)
• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
• Discretionary Project Blurbs for School Websites
• Florida Diagnostic Learning Resource System (FDLRS)
• Florida Inclusion Network (FIN)
• Florida School Choice
• Military Families
• Panhandle Area Education Consortium (PAEC)
• Parent Agency Book
• SED Network (SEDNET)

Teacher Resources

• PEER Instruction Videos
• SEL Lessons

Department Contacts

Dr. Heather Willis-Doxsee, Director, ESE, and Student Services
850.833.3164

Amy Bowles, Program Director, ESE
850.833.3164

Judy Peacock, Program Specialist, ESE
850.833.3164

Brad Burnette, ESE Parent Liaison
850.833.3164

Trisha Johnson, District Level Staffing Specialist
850.833.3164

Karen Sanders, District Level Staffing Specialist
850.833.3164

Ginny Wright, Administrative Assistant
850.833.3164

Laurie Ward, ESE Payroll
850.833.5899

Karen Carroll, ESE Bookkeeper/Records
850.833.5867