Assessments

Assessments

Before your child receives special education services, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that he or she have an evaluation. An evaluation includes information from parents, any special medical concerns, interviews with parents and school staff, and specific tests. The results of an evaluation will be used to determine if your child has a disability and needs special education and related services help in school. You must give your consent in writing before the first evaluation can take place. The evaluation:

  • must be done by trained-and knowledgeable persons
  • must be in all areas related to the suspected disability
  • is more than just one test or assessment procedure
  • must be in your child’s native language unless clearly not possible to do so
  • must not discriminate against your child

Some questions parents can ask the school staff about evaluation are:

  • 1. Why do you want to evaluate my child?
  • 2. What do you think you may find from the evaluation?
  • 3. What kinds of test will you give?
  • 4. In what areas will my child be tested?
  • 5. Will the tests you use discriminate against my child based on:Race? Culture? Disability? Use of language?
  • 6. How do you know that the tests do or do not discriminate?
  • 7. What will happen if my child is NOT evaluated? Will he or she still get some help for the problems you identify?
  • 8. By what date will you give me a written copy of the evaluation results?
  • 9. What steps should I take if I do not agree with the evaluation results?

If your child has behavior problems at school, these questions may be helpful:

  • 1. Does my child need a “functional behavioral assessment?” Why or why not? (a functional behavioral assessment looks at why a child is having behavior problems in school)
  • 2. What are you doing to help my child learn new behavior skills?

If you disagree with the school district’s evaluation results, you have a right to:

  • have someone outside the school system evaluate your child {this is called an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)}
  • help select the person or persons who will do the testing
  • have the testing done at no cost to you or your family*

*The school district must either have your child evaluated at no cost to you, or show, at a hearing, that its evaluation is appropriate.

© 1999 PACER Center, Inc.; 4826 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55417 (612) 827-2966; Fax (612) 827-3065; e-mail: pacer@pacer.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Reviewed and approved by the Office of Special Education Personnel Preparation, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.

The Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) is a not-for-profit, international professional Association representing full-time experienced independent educational advisors. More about IECA

Schools

Schools

Finding the right school and proper placement for your child is the key to better education

 

CAPSES (California Association of Private Special Education Schools) is a statewide professional association of nonpublic schools, agencies, organizations and individuals who specialize in the delivery of quality special education programs to students with special education needs. More about CAPSES

 


 

 


 

Los Angeles Unified School District- Parent Resource Network

(800) 933-8133 (Mon – Fri, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm)

Hotline for parents of special education students who have concerns regarding their child’s school program.

 


 

 

California Department of Education – Special Education Division (916) 445-4613

 

Special Education (800) 926-0648

 

 

Advisory Commission on Special Education (916) 445-4602

 

Office of Administrative Hearings

Due Process Hearings (916) 263-0800

 

1305

Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs)

Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs)

Los Angeles County

 

ABC/Norwalk-LaMirada USD SELPA

(562) 926-5566 ext. 21148

17006 S. Norwalk Blvd.,

Cerritos, CA 90703

Gloria Lopez, Acting SELPA Director

Composed of ABC USD and Norwalk-LaMirada USD

 

Antelope Valley SELPA *

(661) 274-4136

38345 30th Street East Suite A2 –  Mail :   39139 10th Street East

Palmdale, CA 93550

Benay Loftus, SELPA Director

Composed of Acton-Agua Dulce USD, Antelope Valley Union HSD, Eastside Union SD, Gorman SD, Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes Union SD, Keppel Union SD, Lancaster SD, Palmdale SD, Westside Union SD, and Wilsona SD

Website:  www.avspecialed.com

Compton SELPA

(310) 639-4321

2300 W. Caldwell St.

Compton CA 90221

Aaron Benton, SELPA Director

Compton USD

Downey/Montebello SELPA *

(562) 461-8702

9625 Van Ruiten St., Room K1

Bellflower CA 90706

Ray Guilleaume, SELPA Director

Composed of Downey USD and Montebello USD

Website:  www.lacoe.edu

 

East San Gabriel Valley SELPA *

(626) 966-1679

1400 Ranger Drive

Covina, CA 91722-2055

Cathy Calbert, SELPA Director

Website www. esgvselpa.org

Composed of Azusa USD, Baldwin Park USD, Bassett USD, Bonita USD, Charter Oak USD, Claremont USD, Covina-Valley USD, Glendora USD, Pomona USD, Walnut Valley USD, and West Covina USD

 

Foothill SELPA

(818) 241-3111 ext 205  Fax (818) 548-7237

223 N. Jackson St.

Glendale, CA 91206

Amy Lambert, SELPA Director

Composed of Burbank USD, Glendale USD, and La Canada USD

Website: www. foothillselpa.org

 

Long Beach USD SELPA

(562) 997-8067

1515 Hughes Way,

Long Beach, CA 90810

Dr. Rachel Heenan, SELPA Director

 

Los Angeles County Office of

Education  SELPA *

(562) 401-5737

9300 Imperial Hwy.

Downey CA 90242-2890

Jim Anderson, SELPA Director

Composed of LACOE Juvenile Court Schools and LACOE Division of

Alternative Education

Website:  www.lacoe.edu

 

Los Angeles USD SELPA

(213) 241-6701

333 S. Beaudry Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Sharon Jarrett, SELPA Director

website:  dse-web.lausd.k12.ca.us

 

Mid Cities Downey MontebelloSELPA *

(562) 461-8702

9625 Van Ruiten Ave., room k-1

Bellflower CA 90706

Ray Guilleaume, SELPA Director

Composed of Bellflower USD, Lynwood USD, and Paramount USD

NORWALK LA MIRADA USD SELPA

12820 Pioneer Blvd.

Norwalk, CA 90650

Beth Nishada, SELPA Director

www. nlmusd.org

Pasadena Unified School District SELPA

(626) 396-3600 ext.88605

351 South Hudson Ave.

Pasadena, CA 91109

Jerell Hill, SELPA Director,

Special Education

Website: www.pusd.us/page/168

POMONA USD SELPA

(909) 397-4648 ext. 1

851 S. Hamilton Blvd.

Pomona CA 91766-2826

Jennifer Yales,Ed.D, SELPA Director

www. edlinesites.net/pages/pusd

Puente Hills SELPA *

(626) 964-7458

4032 Ellesford Ave.

West Covina, CA 91792

Connie Withers, SELPA Director

Composed of Hacienda La Puente USD and Rowland USD

www.hlpschools.org/selpa

Santa Clarita SELPA *

(661) 294-5398

24930 Avenue Stanford

Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Website:  www.scvselpa.org/home.aspx

Tracy Peyton Perry, SELPA Director

Composed of Castaic Union SD, Newhall SD, Saugus Union SD, Sulphur Springs Union SD, and William S. Hart Union HSD

 

Southwest SELPA

(310) 944-3217

320 Knob Hill Ave.

Redondo Beach CA 90277

Dr. Michael Jason, SELPA Director

Website:  swselpa.org

Composed of Centinela Valley Union HSD, El Segundo USD, Hawthorne SD, Hermosa Beach City SD, Inglewood USD, Lawndale SD, Lennox SD, Manhattan Beach USD, Palos Verdes Peninsula USD, Redondo Beach USD, Torrance USD, and Wiseburn SD.

 

Tri-City SELPA

(310) 842-4220 ext.4310

Tri-City Special Education Services Region

4034 Irving Pl.

Culver City CA 90232

Dina Parker, SELPA Director

www.ccusd.org

Composed of Beverly Hills USD, Culver City USD, and  Santa Monica-Malibu USD

 

West San Gabriel Valley SELPA *

(626) 943-9748

15 W. Alhambra Rd.

Alhambra CA 91801

Jacque Williams, SELPA Director

www.wsgvselpa.org

Composed of Alhambra City and HS Districts, Arcadia USD, Duarte USD, El Monte City SD, El Monte Union HSD, Garvey SD, Monrovia USD, Mountain View SD, Rosemead SD, San Gabriel USD, San Marino USD, South Pasadena USD, Temple City USD, and Valle Lindo SD.

 

Whittier Area Cooperative SELPA

(562) 945-6431   FAX (562) 945-5855

8036 Ocean View Ave.

Whittier, CA 90602

Jimmy Templin, Director, Special Education

Composed of East Whittier City SD, El Rancho USD, Little Lake City SD, Los Nietos SD, Lowell Joint SD, South Whittier SD, Whittier City SD, Whittier Union HSD

 

*Los Angeles County Office of Education administers this SELPA

SELPAs – Other Counties

SPECIAL EDUCATION LOCAL PLAN AREAS – OTHER COUNTIES

 

 Bakersfield City USD SELPA

661-631-4600

1300 Baker St.

Bakersfield CA 93305

www.bcsd.com/specialed/

 

 

Kern County SELPA

661-636-4801

1300 17th Street – City Centre

Bakersfield CA 93301-4533

www.kcsos.kern.org/specialed/

Julianna Gaines, Interim Administrator

Composed of Arvin Union SD, Beardsley SD, Belridge Elementary SD, Blake SD, Buttonwillow Union SD, Caliente Union SD, Delano Joint Union High SD, Delano Union SD, Di Giorgio SD, Edison SD, Elk Hills SD, El Tejon USD, Fairfax SD, Fruitvale SD, General Shafter SD, Greenfield Union SD, Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Kernville Union SD, Lakeside Union Elementary SD, Lamont SD, Linns Valley-Poso Flat Union SD, Lost Hills Union SD, Maple SD, Maricopa USD, McFarland USD, McKittrick SD, Midway SD, Mojave USD, Muroc Joint USD, Norris SD, Panama-Buena Vista USD, Pond Union SD, Richland SD, Rio Bravo-Greeley Union SD, Rosedale Union SD, Semitropic SD, Southern Kern USD, South Fork Union SD, Standard SD, Taft City SD, Tehachapi USD, Vineland SD, Wasco Union High SD, Wasco Union SD.

 

San Luis Obispo SELPA

805-782-7301

8005 Morro Road

Atascadero CA 93422

www.sloselpa.org

Jill Heuer, Director

Composed of Atascadera USD, Cayucos Elementary SD, Coast USD, Lucia Mar USD, Pleasant Valley Joint USD, San Luis Coastal USD, San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, San Miguel Joint USD, Shandon Joint USD, Templeton USD.

 

 

 

Santa Barbara County SELPA

805-683-1424

401 N. Fairview Avenue

Goleta CA 93117

www.sbcselpa.org

Janice Butterfield, Director

Composed of  Ballard SD, Blochman SD, Buellton Union SD, Carpinteria SD, Cold Springs SD, College SD, Cuyama Joint Unified SD, Goleta Union High SD, Guadalupe Union SC, Hope SD, Lompoc SD, Los Alamos SD, Los Olivos SD, Orcutt Union SD, Montecito Union SD, Santa Barbara County Education Office, Santa Barbara High SD, Santa Barbara SD, Santa Maria-Bonita SD, Santa Maria Joint Union SD,  Santa Ynez Union High SD, Solvang SD, Vista Del Mar Union SD

 

Ventura County SELPA

805-437-1560

5100 Adolfo Road

Camarillo CA 93012

vcselpa.com

Mary Samples, Assistant Superintendent

Composed of Briggs SD, Conejo Valley USD, Fillmore USD, Gateway Community School, Hueneme Elementary SD, Las Virgenes USD, Mesa Union SD, Moorpark USD, Mupu SD, Oak Park USD, Ocean View SD, Ojai USD, Oxnard Elementary SD, Oxnard Union High SD, Pleasant Valley SD, Rio SD, Santa Clara SD, Santa Paula Union High SD, Somis Union SD, Ventura County Office of Education, Ventura USD.