Use the training server assigned to your district or SELPA:

• Ventura County districts
• Kern and Bakersfield-area districts
• All other SIRAS SELPA districts

Because the training database may contain copied production records, continue to follow the same confidentiality and access expectations that apply in production.

Preparing records for a training

When staff need records they can safely modify during a planned training:

• create new records on the training server using fake names and demonstration information; or
• use the dedicated Training SELPA area when one is available for the SELPA.

See System Event Calendar for scheduled production-to-training copy dates.

For information about persistent training-data locations or a dedicated training area, email [email protected].

Suggested practice activities

• Log in and verify your account information.
• Locate a student using several search methods.
• Review the Home Page, MIS Summary, Forms Manager, Reporting, and Tools areas.
• Use a fake or approved training record to practice data entry and meeting workflows.
• Run a predefined list or query.
• Practice identifying Current, Meeting, Archived, and Next Year's Data.

Program and general-user training

For live online training related to the following topics, contact [email protected]:

• 504 and SST modules;
• IEP goals and benchmarks;
• IEP progress reports;
• IEP service logs; and
• general SIRAS orientation or user training.

Administrative, integration, and reporting training

For live sessions involving the following topics, contact [email protected]:

• SIS integration setup or review;
• SEDS Coordinator and administrator workflows;
• CALPADS Fall 1 or EOY reporting preparation;
• CALPADS certification and error-resolution support; and
• complex district-specific data or reporting workflows.

Include this information in the request

• district or SELPA;
• intended audience and approximate number of participants;
• experience level;
• requested topics;
• preferred date range and session length; and
• whether the training should use a specific district workflow or form set.

Office hours are useful for administrators and SEDS Coordinators who have completed introductory training and need help applying the process to current work.

Use Office Hour Opportunities for SPED Admin Staff for:

• current SIRAS administrator/SEDS Coordinator office-hour dates and meeting links;
• CDE special education question-and-answer opportunities;
• CALPADS support office hours; and
• links to current and prior agendas when available.

Self-guided learning

• Introduction to SIRAS for Special Education Administrators
• Getting Started as a SEDS Coordinator
• Provider Support
• Administrator / SEDS Coordinator Support
• SIRAS User Manual

Recorded and in-product resources

Older recorded demonstrations and support files may be available inside SIRAS from Tools > Support Documents. Use the newer Knowledge Base articles whenever both an older recording and a current written procedure are available, because workflows and reporting rules may have changed.

Seasonal administrator training

• SIRAS Admin Fall Refresher
• Before Rollover – Preparation & Exceptions
• After Rollover – Record Processing & Cleanup
• Beginning of School Year Help – Administrator Checklist
• Preparing for Fall 1 Census Day
• Preparing for EOY in SIRAS

Advanced administrator topics

• Predefined Queries, Lists & Reports
• Overdue-As-Of Projections
• Reviewing the CALPADS 16.21 Report
• Compare SIRAS Data with the CALPADS 16.21 Report
• Indicator Reports
• FTE Report
• TOMS & Assessment Information
• DRDP Help for Administrators

Use SEDS Coordinator Focus by Month and System Event Calendar to identify the training most relevant to the current time of year.

SIRAS workflows, CALPADS rules, deadlines, and known issues change. Continue learning through:

• Active and Known Issues
• SIRAS SEDS & CALPADS Update History
• SIRAS Communications
• Office Hour Opportunities for SPED Admin Staff
• SIRAS Newsletter Archive

Inside SIRAS

• Review the Home Page Bulletin Board.
• Review the Recent Changes tab.
• Read district and SELPA announcements.
• Follow links provided in current SIRAS communications rather than relying on an older training agenda.

• ☐ I selected the training path that matches my role.
• ☐ I can log in and have the correct SIRAS role, scope, and site access.
• ☐ I know which training server applies to my district and when it is next scheduled to be refreshed.
• ☐ I will use fake records, a Training SELPA area, or another approved persistent location for planned training exercises.
• ☐ I understand that the training server may contain an older copy of real production data and that the same confidentiality expectations apply.
• ☐ I identified the topics and workflows I need to learn.
• ☐ I reviewed the introductory article before requesting advanced training.
• ☐ I know whether my question belongs in live training, office hours, or a SIRAS Support request.
• ☐ I know where to find the User Manual and role-specific Support Center.
• ☐ I know where to review current issues, communications, and office-hour schedules.

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