Special Education Parent Resources

Federal and state law obligate districts to provide parents with “prior notice” of two main types, general and specific. In Greater Anaheim SELPA, general prior notice to parents is provided through the Parent Rights – Notice to Parent/Guardian/Surrogate. The purpose is to meet the legal mandate to fully inform parents of their rights under the IDEA and related state law. Parents must be given the rights annually, upon evaluation and when the parent files for due process hearing.

Procedural Safeguards - English
 
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There are other times when a specific prior notice to parents is necessary. Typically this is when a parent asks the IEP Team for something that the District members of the IEP team has not recommended. The circumstances when this type of notice is required are specified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that implements IDEA. CFR300.503 outlines the requirements of this type of notice. For example, when a parent asks that a service be added to their child’s IEP FAPE offer and the IEP team (District) is refusing the request; the District must give a prior notice in written form within a reasonable time frame.

The federal IDEA regulations changed in January 2009 and impacted parent notice requirements. The most substantial change regards parental revocation of consent to continuing IEP services for their child. This means that a parent can indicate in writing at any time that they no longer want any IEP services (special education) for their child.

The Child Find process requires Los Alamitos Unified School District to identify, locate, and evaluate any child with a suspected disability residing in its jurisdiction.  This obligation includes all students who attend private schools, military, migrant or homeless students, students who are wards of the State, and any student with a suspected disability who is advancing in grade level.

It is important to note that Child Find is a screening process that identifies children who have a disability, or suspected of having a disability and may need special education and related services.  Children identified through the Child Find process must still be assessed to confirm eligibility.  

In most cases, a student should be referred for a special education assessment after every appropriate intervention in the general education program has been considered, utilized, and proven to be unsuccessful.  Every attempt should be made to meet the educational needs of the student within the general education program.  

Timelines

1. Upon the request for a special education assessment, the parent must be provided with an Initial Assessment Plan within 15 days. The 15-day timeline does not include school breaks that exceed 5 school days, such as winter break; for these breaks, the 15-day timeline continues on the date that the regular school session resumes. If a referral for assessment is made and received within 10 days or less prior to the end of regular school year, the 15-day timeline does not apply.  In this case, an assessment plan will be developed within 10 days after the start of the next school year.
2. The parents/guardians must give consent to the proposed assessment plan. The assessment timeline begins when the signed assessment plan is received by your student's .
3. An IEP meeting must be held within 60 days from the receipt of a signed assessment plan unless the parents/guardians agree to an extension in writing. The 60-day timeline does not include school breaks that exceed 5 school days, such as winter break, for these breaks, the 60-day timeline continues on the date that the regular school session resumes. If a signed assessment plan is received by the district within 30 days or less prior to the last day of the regular school year,  the IEP meeting must be held within 30 days of the start of the next school year.
4. The IEP must be reviewed at least annually (within 365 days).
5. The student must be reassessed to re-determine eligibility for Special Education, at least every three years.

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is created for all students in special education.  The IEP team will always include the following:

• Parent
• General Education Teacher
• Special Education Teacher
• Administrator

When necessary additional participants may be invited, such as:

• School Psychologist 
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Behavior Intervention Specialist
• Mental Health Specialist
• District Administrator
• Parents may also invite other necessary participants

At the initial IEP meeting, the team will meet to review the assessment, determine eligibility and if necessary, discuss the need for special education services. Based on the assessment, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed, including identification on student’s unique needs, establishment of baseline or present levels of performance and draft Annual Goals and Objectives, when the student is determined to be eligible for, and requires, special education services. The parent must give informed written consent prior to the implementation of any components of the IEP.

The IEP must be reviewed at least annually (within 365 days) to update progress, IEP goals, accommodations and services.  The student must be reassessed to re-determine eligibility for Special Education, at least every three years.  

The Los Alamitos Unified School District Autism Specific Classrooms are designed to meet the needs of students in pre-school through adult transition (3-22 years old)  according to their Individualized Education Program (IEP).

The structured classrooms utilize:

• Structured Teaching
• Positive Behavior Interventions
• Mainstreaming opportunities
• Varied materials to teach concepts
• Utilization of Evidence Based Practices
• Functional Academic Curriculum & Instruction

District Policy generally limits enrollment to only students who actually live with their parent or legal guardian within the district on a permanent basis and as a primary residence.  Parents/Guardians interested in learning more about Special Education programs within the Los Alamitos Unified School District should contact the Special Education office at (562) 799-4700 x 80420.

For complete information on student enrollment, please contact the school closest to your home. You may also contact the District Office at (562) 799-4700 x 80411 or send an email to Lisa Wallace at lwallace@losal.org.  The Los Alamitos Unified School District serves students residing in Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Rossmoor, Surfside, and small portions of Long Beach and Cypress. To identify your home school, please click on the My School Locator link.

Following completion of the district required residency verification, which can be obtained through the enrollment page or at any district school site, as well as receipt of your child’s current IEP and Psycho-Educational Assessment, district staff will contact you to provide you with information regarding placement and programs.