Special Education and Student Services

Special Education and Student Services

Selma Unified School District provides a continuum of services to students with disabilities who qualify for special education and who reside within the district boundaries. One of the primary goals of special education is to assist students with acquiring the skills necessary to be involved in and progress in the general curriculum and school environment. Services and supports for qualifying students fall under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) a federal education law that forms the foundation for special education throughout the country. IDEA helps guarantee students with disabilities from birth through age 21 receive a "free appropriate public education" (FAPE). This ensures students can attend school daily, access educational content at the same level as their peers, and have their individual educational needs determined and addressed. IDEA guarantees four major rights:

  • Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
  • Fair Assessment Procedures
  • Placement in Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
  • Parent Involvement in Educational Decisions

IDEA provides for two protections:

  • Individualized Education Program (IEP)
  • Due Process Procedures

The provisions of IDEA are enforced by the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.

Selma Unified School District is committed to providing a multi-tiered system of supports to ensure equal access to all students. For further information please contact:

Diane Gischel-Lingo, Ed.D

Coordinator, Special Education and Student Services

559-898-6500

diane.gischellingo@selmausd.org


Child Find

The purpose of Child Find is to locate and evaluate children who are suspected of having a disability. If it is determined that the disability interferes with learning, special education services and supports may be recommended. Anyone can refer a child they suspect has a disability. If you suspect your child or a child you know of having a disability, contact:

Selma Unified School District

Special Education Coordinator

3036 Thompson Ave

Selma, CA 93662

559-898-6500


The Individual Education Program

Federal law (IDEA - Individual with Disabilities Education Act) specifies that every student who qualifies and requires special education services to have an individualized education program (IEP). The IEP fulfills two main requirements:

  • IEP meetings include parents and school personnel jointly making decisions to develop an individualized educational program for a student with a disability, and
  • The IEP document is a written record of the decisions reached at the meeting to guarantee delivery of appropriate services to meet the educational needs of the student.

IEP meetings are held when determining initial eligibility for special education, developing the initial IEP and conducting an annual review. The IEP needs to be reviewed annually. Parents and school personnel of students receiving special education services may request an IEP meeting, in writing, at anytime. An IEP will be schedule within 30 days of receipt of the request. Requests can be made to the special education teacher, case manager, school administrator or the coordinator of special education.

Referral and Assessment

To receive special education services a child must meet Federal and State eligibility criteria for one or more of 13 identified disabilities and because of that disability require special education services to access his/her education. Qualifying disabilities include:

  • Autism
  • Deafness
  • Deaf-Blindness
  • Emotional Distrubance
  • Hard of Hearing
  • Intellectual Disability
  • Multiple Disabilities (Intellectual disability combined with blindness or an orthopedic impairment)
  • Orthopedic Impairment
  • Other Health Impairment
  • Specific Learning Disability
  • Speech and/or Langauge Impairment
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Visual Impairment

Pre-referral Process

Prior to a child being referred for special education instruction and services, the continuum of general education resources needs to be considered and where appropriate implemented and documented. Schools within Selma Unified follow the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) which incorporates integrated strategies to address learning across academic and behavioral domains.

Initial Referral Process

Children, birth through age 21, can be referred, through written notification, for special education services by parents, the school's student study team (SST), individual school personnel (teacher, counselors, and administrators), or other agencies and professionals.

Parent Notification of Referral and Assessment Plan

Upon receiving a referral for a special education assessment, the case manager, typically the special education teacher, has 15 days to develop an Assessment Plan and send to the parent for approval. The written assessment plan and related documents includes: the assessment plan with the areas to be assessed and who, by position, will be conducting the assessment; and a copy of the Procedural Safeguards afforded to parents who have a child being referred or is receiving special education services.

Evaluation Timelines

After the parent agrees to the assessment and returns the signed assessment plan, the case manager and the assessment team (the professionals conducting the assessments) has 60 calendar days in which to conduct the evaluation and hold the Individual Education Program (IEP) team meeting. If at this meeting it is determined the child qualifies for special education and requires services, an IEP will be developed.

Three-Year Reassessment (Triennial)

Federal and state laws require that each student receiving special education services is reassessed at least once every three-years. The triennial determines if the the student continues to be a student with a disability, continues to need special education, what the student's present levels of educational performance and needs are; and whether or not additions or changes need to be made to the special education services to enable the student to meet IEP goals and participate, as appropriate, in the general curriculum.

Mediation, Due Process Procedures and California Department of Education (CDE) Special Education Complaints

Concerns and issues parents have about their child's educational program can usually be taken care of by talking with the special education teacher, case manager, principal or by reconvening an IEP meeting. If these remedies have not resulted in the outcomes desired, parents are encouraged to contact the district special education coordinator and/or the Fresno County SELPA. In situations where parents have not been able to obtain an acceptable outcome, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), mediation and/or a due process hearing are available.

ADR is a process in which a third party, ideally neutral, assists two parties in reaching an amicable resolution through the use of various techniques. ADR describes a variety of approaches to resolve conflict which avoid the cost, delay and unpredictability of the traditional judicial processes. ADR is usually conducted at a local level through a facilitated IEP process or mediation.

Mediation is a managed process during which the parties discuss their dispute in an attempt to reach a mutually acceptable resolution. The manager of the process is called the "mediator." The mediator is a neutral participant, skilled in methods of facilitating effective communication between the parties. In mediation, it is the parties themselves that determine if a resolution is reached, and if so, the terms of the agreement. Meditations can take place at a local level or through a state mediator.

Due Process Hearing is the next step if ADR or Mediation is unable to resolve the disagreement. Parents may request a due process hearing regarding their child's special education identification, assessment, educational placement or FAPE. Due process hearing procedures include the right to a mediation conference, the right to examine student records and the right to a fair and impartial administrative hearing at the state level.

To file for mediation and/or due process hearing contact the Office of Administrative Hearings.

The California Department of Education special education division investigates allegation of noncompliance with special education laws, federal or state. CDE ensures public agencies meet the educational needs of students with disabilities. To file a complaint with the CDE contact, California Department of Education, Special Education Division, Procedural Safeguards Referral Service (PSRS).