Special Education 

Welcome to the San Diego Unified School District Special Education Department!

At San Diego Unified, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and empowering environment for all students, regardless of their individual needs. Our Special Education team works collaboratively with families, educators, and community partners to provide personalized services that help students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. All special education programs within our district are aligned to the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) goals to ensure all students have access to a broad and challenging curriculum, cultivate social-emotional development, and preparing students with the skills, knowledge, and plans for success beyond high school graduation. 

We offer a wide range of services designed to meet the unique needs of each student, from early childhood through transition. Our goal is to ensure every student has access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed and reach their fullest potential.

Thank you for visiting our website. Here, you’ll find valuable information about programs, services, and resources available to students and families. We are excited to partner with you to create a positive and inclusive educational experience for every student in our district.

San Diego Unified School District is required by law to actively and systematically seek out and evaluate all individuals, ages birth–21, who reside in the district and may have disabilities identified in IDEA. This includes children with disabilities, regardless of the severity of their disability, who may need special education and related services. This also includes children who are highly mobile, migrant, homeless or wards of the State, or who are attending private schools.   

The district conducts ongoing child-find activities to locate children who may need special education programs and services and evaluates these children, as appropriate. The activities are intended to make the general public, community agencies, and school district staff aware of the special education programs and services available and how to access these services. 

School personnel must investigate all reports of students not attending school, enroll them and, as appropriate, determine if the student has any areas of suspected disability. When students previously attended a district school and then does not enroll or attend anywhere in the district the following year, the school of anticipated attendance must do their due diligence in attempting to determine where the student is enrolled and determine next steps necessary, if any.

Students who are not yet 6 years old and of compulsory age for school attendance should be assessed rather than recommending they wait another year to begin attending school.