Special Education
Overview
The Special Education Team supports the SPUSD vision of “Every Student, Every Day” by continually developing and providing leadership that supports an equitable and inclusive continuum of specialized services.
SPUSD is committed to providing a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for preschoolers, school-age students, and young adults with disabilities in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) in order to meet each student’s individual needs. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is provided based upon a student’s individual needs and goals. The IEP is developed by the student’s multi-disciplinary IEP Team, and the parent and student are an integral member of this team. The IEP describes the services that SPUSD will provide for each student who is eligible for special education. Special education services are provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law that was signed into law in 1997, then reauthorized in 2004 as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. Information about eligibility for special education, FAPE, LRE, and the IEP process, and more is available in our Ventura County SELPA parent guide.
The Special Education team is committed to the mission of empowering all students academically, socially, and emotionally for college, careers, global citizenship, leadership, and lifelong learning. The team serves to prepare our students for positive outcomes by ensuring inclusion and equity for students in our educational communities through ongoing multi-disciplinary collaboration and decision-making, intentional and individualized service provision and monitoring, and alignment with family and community partnerships.
The Special Education Team exists to provide each learner with an individualized educational experience in each of our schools.
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We strive to create access and support for each learner.
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Collaboration and communication, including the student, family, staff and community, is paramount to building success.
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We inspire, empower, and honor the whole learner through intentional planning and well-designed opportunities for students.
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We create places of learning that are safe, supportive, and meaningful for our students.
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Student ownership, independence, and self-determination are essential opportunities that lead to growth and goal attainment for each learner.
Ventura County SELPA Parent Resources
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SELPA Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
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The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is made up of family members, school staff and agency representatives. The CAC facilitates the communication and exchange of information between schools and families, advises the administration of the SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area) regarding their concerns and collaborates to solve them. CAC promotes activities that benefit individuals with special needs, sponsors training for parents of children with special needs and assists with the formation of parent sponsors. CAC meetings are held quarterly, the first Monday of the month from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. New member orientation will begin at 3:30 p.m. Currently, the meetings are being held via Zoom. Please contact VC SELPA at vcselpa@vcoe.org for the link to the meetings.
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Department of Rehabilitation Student Services
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Students aged 16-21 who have been identified as having a disability are eligible for DOR services.
Click here to access more information regarding DOR / click here to apply for DOR services
