Special Education Services

The Tri-Valley SELPA is committed to serving the educational needs of each of its students. Each District school has a process that brings together the parent or guardian, the student, if appropriate, and school personnel to address any problem that interferes with a student's success in school. This team is the Student Success Team (SST). The team is responsible for identifying the student's needs, providing referrals to appropriate interventions, and developing a plan to enable the student to be successful.

A student with a disability may qualify for accommodations or classroom modifications under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. You or your child's teacher may submit a written request to the school administrator for a Section 504 evaluation of your child in order to determine whether accommodations or modifications might be appropriate. You will be notified when the evaluation meeting is to take place, and you are encouraged to participate in this meeting. Your child may then be provided with accommodations, modifications, and intervention strategies in the general education classroom. For further information on Section 504, see the District’s Section 504 and Students with Disabilities brochure.

Sometimes, however, students may require special education and related services. Eligibility for special education is determined by an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team after a student has had a formal assessment. Students receive special education services only after all the resources of the general education program have been considered.

Special education services are specially designed instruction to meet the unique educational needs of children with disabilities who meet the eligibility criteria under the law. Special education services can begin at age three (3) and may continue until your child graduates or reach the age of twenty-two (22).

In California, children with disabilities younger than three (3) years of age may qualify for early intervention services which help enhance their development. Children who qualify for early intervention services will receive services from the District if they have, solely, a visual, hearing, or severe orthopedic impairment. All other children in this age range who exhibit developmental delays or have established risk conditions with harmful developmental consequences will receive early intervention services from their local Regional Center. For further information, call the Tri-Valley SELPA office.

A child is eligible for special education services if an IEP team determines that the child has a disability and requires special education services to progress in his/her education. The disabilities include:

• Autism

• Deafness

• Deaf-Blindness

• Emotional Disturbance

• Established Medical Disability (Only for children ages 3-5)

• Hearing Impairment

• Intellectual Disability

• Multiple Disabilities

• Orthopedic Impairment

• Other Health Impairment

• Specific Learning Disability

• Speech or Language Impairment

• Traumatic Brain Injury

• Visual Impairment