The Link

Director's Corner

Dr. Jodie Rommel, Director of Integrated Services

Dear Families, As we near the end of another school year, I wanted to share our progress on some of our Integrated Services projects and goals.

• Increasing Student Growth in Literacy -  Our Integrated Services Coaches are completing LETRS Training, based on the Science of Reading. Our coaches will be able to elevate our IS educators' efficacy in literacy thorough on-going professional learning opportunities.
• Increasing Graduation Rates - We have been addressing our graduation rates with a multi-pronged approach and are seeing fewer students dropping out of school and more students graduating on time. We are working with our high schools to look closely at the data to ensure we are being proactive when students are not on track to graduate on time and adjusting service delivery models. We anticipate 82 students, with a wide variety of needs, in our Transition Pathways Academy next year. We are excited to have more opportunities for our 18–21-year-olds as they transition to adulthood.
• Identifying Students Eligible for Special Education Services -  We have been providing professional development throughout this school year to educators, psychologists, counselors, and administrators in PSD to ensure we are meeting our Child Find obligations and serving all students eligible for specially designed instruction under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. We are also increasing our Child Find community outreach efforts.
• Conducting an ILS Program Evaluation - We gathered information from staff, administrators, students, and families and examined IEPs, practices, and student growth data. Additionally, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) visited 9 of our ILS programs recently and provided feedback. We are now in the process of compiling all of the information and data into a full report.

While it is always good to celebrate the progress we have made, we know that there is always more work to be done as we strive to continuously improve outcomes for students and families in PSD. Grateful, Jodie

Board of education resolution

On April 14th, the PSD Board of Education approved a resolution in support of The Week of the Exceptional Child to be celebrated April 13th-17th! Two students shared their experience as exceptional children. Introduced by Kinard Middle School IS Teacher, Ansley Garnett, Gil Eidin shared about what life on the spectrum can feel like and what helps at school. He closed by stating that the most important thing is feeling understood, because "when I feel understood I don't need to mask as much and I can focus on learning and building real connections." Kendyl Bump from McGraw Elementary was introduced by Cathy Bowles, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at McGraw. Kendyl signed (and spoke) and shared about the support she receives at McGraw and ended her presentation with "I love it here!" This week we celebrate all of our exceptional children and those who support them!

SEAC Update

The Special Education Advisory Committee is made up of parents, community partners, and PSD staff. The purpose of SEAC is to represent students with disabilities and advise the Special Education Leadership Team on their behalf. The last SEAC meeting of the 2025-26 school year was held on March 25th. The committee reviewed 5 district policies and provided input. Meeting notes and the action letter from the 3/25/26 meeting are now posted on the SEAC page. We will be looking to fill the following open positions for the 2026-27 school year:

• 2 parents of Early Childhood students served on an IEP
• 2 parents of Middle School students served on an IEP
• 2 parents of High School students served on an IEP
• 2 parents of Transition Pathways students served on an IEP
• 1 student or former student served on an IEP

If you are interested in applying to become a SEAC member, please complete the application by August 21, 2026. You will be notified by September 4, 2026.

World autism acceptance month - april 2026

World Autism Acceptance Month is an opportunity for everyone to come together and raise awareness, acceptance, and create a society where autistic people are supported and understood. How you show up to support your autistic family members, students, and/or colleagues can help create an inclusive and accepting world.  

504 Plans and IEPs

If you have ever been curious about the difference between 504 Plans and Individualized Education Programs, please see this handout. We will be sharing this information throughout PSD and the community. We hope it helps to clarify the process and misconceptions for each type of support. Also, please note that in PSD 504 Plans are a general education process and IEPs are a special education process.

medicaid changes

Please see the link below for important information regarding changes in Medicaid effective as early as October 2026 with others occurring in January 2027. Those impacted will begin to receive information from Medicaid over the summer. It will be important to get into the habit of knowing how to manage your benefits, checking your email, keeping addresses updated, and reaching out for help if needed.

congratulations to our 2026 mary hull award nominees!

Mary Hull dedicated 21 years to Poudre School District, retiring as Assistant Director of Special Education in 1983. In 1984, The Mary Hull Awards were established in her honor to recognize PSD staff who go above and beyond to support students with disabilities. There are four categories of this award:

• The Integrated Services Teacher Award is for licensed teachers
• The Specialized Service Provider Award is for licensed professionals who serve students with special needs
• The Honorary Award recognized classified professionals or community members
• The Collaborative Award is for general education teachers or building administrators

It truly is an honor to be nominated for this award! The winners of this prestigious award will be announced at PSD Celebrates on May 4th at The Lincoln Center.