Special Education Terms in Florida

What special education terms does Florida use?

Florida uses distinct terminology for its special education system that differs significantly from federal IDEA language. The state term for special education is Exceptional Student Education (ESE), governed by F.S. Chapter 1003, Part II and FAC Rule 6A-6 (F.S. §1003.01(3)). Students receiving services are called 'exceptional students,' which under Florida law uniquely encompasses both students with disabilities AND students who are gifted (F.S. §1003.01(3); FAC 6A-6.03019). The state agency overseeing ESE is the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS), a division within the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) (BEESS Strategic Plan, 2020-2025). BEESS provides leadership, resource allocation, technical assistance, monitoring, and evaluation of ESE procedures, records, and programs statewide. The IEP meeting in Florida is commonly referred to as a 'staffing' or 'staffing meeting,' a term unique to Florida's ESE system (FDOE, 'What Is ESE for Children with Disabilities?'). The eligibility determination meeting is called an 'eligibility staffing,' at which the parents and school staff determine if a student qualifies for ESE services based on the criteria in State Board of Education rules (Disability Rights Florida, ESE Eligibility Process). The Matrix of Services is a Florida-specific tool used to determine the level and intensity of services a student requires; it generates a score that drives supplemental funding through the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) (FDOE, Matrix of Services Handbook, 2024). The Florida Inclusion Network (FIN) is a statewide initiative that collaborates with districts and schools to provide customized services ensuring all students with disabilities have equitable educational, social, and future opportunities (FIN, floridainclusionnetwork.com). The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) is a network of 19 centers funded through IDEA, providing Child Find, parent services, human resource development, and technology services (FDLRS, fdlrs.org). The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA), formerly the McKay Scholarship, is a school choice option for students with IEPs or approved medical diagnoses, converted to an education savings account (ESA) model effective July 1, 2022 (F.S. §1002.394; HB 1, 2023). Florida calls its school-level special education specialist the 'ESE Specialist' and its district-level administrator the 'District ESE Director.' The term 'exceptional student' in Florida uniquely includes gifted learners — a category NOT included in the federal IDEA definition of 'child with a disability.' Florida is a one-party consent state for recordings under F.S. §934.03, meaning a parent may lawfully record an IEP staffing meeting without notifying or obtaining consent from school district personnel.