North Santa Cruz County SELPA

What is a Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)?

A SELPA is a state-mandated association that provides for all the special education service needs of children residing within the regional boundaries. There are approximately 120 SELPAs in California. Each SELPA develops a local plan describing how it provides special education services. Responsibilities of the SELPA include:

Child Find

Ensuring Program Availability for all Children with Disabilities

Curriculum/Program Development, Coordination, Support & Evaluation

Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Support

Management Information System (MIS)

Transition Planning

Legal Assistance

Personnel Development

Budget Planning and Review

Interagency Coordination

Fiscal Management

Program Specialist Services

Community Awareness

Serve as a District Resource

Legal Concepts of Special Education:

Child Find: Each public school system is responsible to find and serve all eligible children with disabilities in its area. The North Santa Cruz County SELPA maintains a flyer on the website to aid in the timely and appropriate identification of children who may have disabilities.

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE): Each public school system is responsible for ensuring that each child with disabilities is served appropriately, at no expense to the parent.

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): Each child is assured of his/her right of education with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate to the needs of both.

Due Process: The right of parent participation, and challenge, in all aspects of assessment, identification and placement is assured; involves mediation or administrative hearing procedures and complaint procedure in case of disputes.

Infant/Family Service Plan (IFSP): Serving children with special needs from birth to age three.

Individualized Educational Planning (IEP): The right of a child to an educational program designed to meet his/her individual needs and based on adequate assessment is assured. At age 14 to 16 this includes the development of an Individual Transition Plan (ITP) to provide for transition into the world of work.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the primary federal program that authorizes state and local aid for special education and related services for children with disabilities.

The IDEA was reauthorized by Congress and signed by the President on December 3, 2004. See Federal Legislation page for more inforamtion, including links to text of bill, comparison of IDEA 1997 and IDEA 2004, proposed regulations, and other resources.

The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) announces a new resource, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Parent Guide. This guide describes the special education process - a process that is the same regardless of a child's particular difficulties or disabilities.


	OUR MISSION The interdependent and diverse school districts in the North Santa Cruz County SELPA are committed to serving students, by providing equal access to resources and a comprehensive education. Our Goal is to prepare students to be productive, lifelong learners who are connected to their communities. We will accomplish this mission by working collaboratively, staying open to new ideas, and acknowledging that each student has a unique pathway to success
Directions Links Parent Rights Community Adv. SELPA Forms Fam. Comm. Res. Child Find		Staff Documents & Reports Workshops/Calendar Legis. Links Dispute Res. Library Prog. Directory
	400 Encinal Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Phone: (831) 466-5700 FAX: (831) 466-5607 Email: Salli Price Welsh Assistant Superitendent, SELPA
The North Santa Cruz County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) is comprised of 11 school districts and charters, and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. These entities work together to offer a free appropriate public education (FAPE) providing programs and services of high quality and the establishment and maintenance of policies that assure compliance with federal and state law. What is a Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)? A SELPA is a state-mandated association that provides for all the special education service needs of children residing within the regional boundaries. There are approximately 120 SELPAs in California. Each SELPA develops a local plan describing how it provides special education services. Responsibilities of the SELPA include: Child Find Ensuring Program Availability for all Children with Disabilities Curriculum/Program Development, Coordination, Support & Evaluation Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Support Management Information System (MIS) Transition Planning Legal Assistance Personnel Development Budget Planning and Review Interagency Coordination Fiscal Management Program Specialist Services Community Awareness Serve as a District Resource Legal Concepts of Special Education: Child Find: Each public school system is responsible to find and serve all eligible children with disabilities in its area. The North Santa Cruz County SELPA maintains a flyer on the website to aid in the timely and appropriate identification of children who may have disabilities. Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE): Each public school system is responsible for ensuring that each child with disabilities is served appropriately, at no expense to the parent. Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): Each child is assured of his/her right of education with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate to the needs of both. Due Process: The right of parent participation, and challenge, in all aspects of assessment, identification and placement is assured; involves mediation or administrative hearing procedures and complaint procedure in case of disputes. Infant/Family Service Plan (IFSP): Serving children with special needs from birth to age three. Individualized Educational Planning (IEP): The right of a child to an educational program designed to meet his/her individual needs and based on adequate assessment is assured. At age 14 to 16 this includes the development of an Individual Transition Plan (ITP) to provide for transition into the world of work.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the primary federal program that authorizes state and local aid for special education and related services for children with disabilities. The IDEA was reauthorized by Congress and signed by the President on December 3, 2004. See Federal Legislation page for more inforamtion, including links to text of bill, comparison of IDEA 1997 and IDEA 2004, proposed regulations, and other resources. The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) announces a new resource, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Parent Guide. This guide describes the special education process - a process that is the same regardless of a child's particular difficulties or disabilities.
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