Office of Special Education

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 OSE T.A. Summer Summit! It was a great day of collaboration, networking, and learning as Technical Assistance Partners from across Nebraska came together to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and continue our collective work to improve outcomes for students with disabilities and their families.

We appreciate your partnership and look forward to another year of working together to support Nebraska schools and educators.

Our Offices will be closed on Monday, 5.25.2026, in observance of Memorial Day, which is a State & Federal Holiday.

Image by Liam Ortiz from Pixabay

This Teacher Appreciation Week, the NDE Office of Special Education extends our gratitude to the educators who make a difference in the lives of Nebraska students every single day.

Special education teachers, related service providers, and school staff go above and beyond to support students with disabilities through encouragement, advocacy, creativity, and compassion. Your dedication helps students grow, achieve, and thrive both in and out of the classroom.

Thank you for your continued commitment to students, families, and schools across Nebraska. Your work matters, and the impact you make lasts far beyond the classroom walls.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Image by Marc Forman from Pixabay

What a wonderful evening at the NCECBVI “Light Up the Night” Prom on April 30, 2026, in Nebraska City! Designed for high school and transition students with visual impairments in the ESU 4 area, this special event was a joy to celebrate with students, families, and staff.

The night was filled with music, dancing, laughter, and unforgettable memories. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event such a success, for allowing us to join you... and to the students who truly made the night shine. ✨

L-R - NDE Staff - Policy & Strategic Initiatives Administrator Lane Carr; OSE Director, Low Incidence Disabilities, Darsha Pelland; OSE Administrator/State Director Amy Rhone; and State Board District 2 Representative Maggie Douglas.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our outgoing Nebraska Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) members whose terms of service ended at last week's final meeting of the 2025/2026 school year.

Thank you for the time, insight, and heart you shared in support of Nebraska students with disabilities and their families. Serving on SEAC means more than attending meetings. It means reviewing important issues, offering thoughtful guidance, and helping shape stronger supports and opportunities for students across our state.

Your dedication, advocacy, and willingness to serve have made a lasting difference, and we are deeply grateful. Nebraska is better because of your leadership.

Please join us in thanking these outstanding individuals for their service and commitment. Some members are pictured here receiving service awards, while others were unable to attend but are equally appreciated and recognized.

Thank you for helping move this work forward.
Pictured L-R: SEAC Facilitator/OSE Asst. Administrator Micki Charf, Matthew McNiff, Sr. Janelle Buettner, Chelsea Feusner, Graciela Sharif, and OSE Administrator/State Director, Amy Rhone.

Not Pictured: Amy Bonn, Stacey Carnazzo, Kristin Flott, Jill Franco, and Timothy O'Malley.

Our offices will be closed today, Friday, 4.24.2026, in observance of Arbor Day, a State Holiday.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Building Systems for Lasting Change: How Nebraska is Ensuring Sustainable HQIM Support

Pilots can produce results. But do those results last?

We designed Materials Matter for All with sustainability in mind, aligning NDE, ESU 8, and NeMTSS Region 3 to embed professional learning on HQIM implementation for students with disabilities into ongoing support systems for educators.

This isn't just about a successful pilot. It's about building the infrastructure for lasting change.

Read the full story at: https://www.education.ne.gov/sped/

We’re hiring! Nebraska Department of Education, Office of Special Education is looking for an Assistant Administrator of Special Education – Director, IDEA Part B to join our team. This role is a big one... leading important work that supports students with disabilities across the state, alongside a team that genuinely cares!

If you’re passionate about special education, systems-level impact, and making a difference where it really counts, you’ll want to check this out and apply by May 6, 2026!

Assistant Administrator of Special Education & Director-IDEA Part B (Administrator) The work we do matters! Hiring Agency: Education - Agency 13 Location: Lincoln, NE Hiring Rate: $44.632 Job Posting: JR2026-00025380 Assistant Administrator of Special Education & Director-IDEA Part B (Administrator) (Open) Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is post...

Reaching Educators Across Nebraska: A Scalable Approach to HQIM Implementation

In our CCSSO Materials Matter for All pilot, facilitates curriculum-specific professional learning while Megan Dufek (ESU 8 MTSS & PEaK Coordinator), Brooke Gebers (NeMTSS Regional Support Lead), and Gray Morris (NeMTSS Integrated Support Specialist) observe and then lead parallel sessions with an additional cohort.
This approach ensures that when the pilot ends, Nebraska has internal expertise to sustain and expand the work.

Read the full story at: https://www.education.ne.gov/sped/

The Challenge: Making HQIM Work for Students with Disabilities

The challenge was clear: 80% of Nebraska districts had adopted high-quality instructional materials, but students with disabilities weren't yet experiencing the same academic gains as their peers.
We knew quality curriculum materials mattered. But alone, they aren’t enough. Educators need guidance on how to use embedded supports effectively for students with disabilities.

That's why we applied for, and received, a CCSSO grant to pilot an initiative focused on CBPL for students with disabilities. Materials Matter for All is a curriculum-based professional learning series in partnership with ESU 8, NeMTSS Region 3, and , where we are testing proven strategies for using HQIM for SwDs.

Read the full story at: https://www.education.ne.gov/sped/
Follow along as we share what we learn over the next few months!