Frequently
Asked Questions byParents
How do I know if my child needs special education services?  Your child may have difficulties that interfere with his/her ability to go to school or to learn. These difficulties may be in one of these general areas:
Speech and Language Development |
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Some children may have a very difficult time learning to speak clearly and/or understanding what is said to them.
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Vision Problems |
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Some children may have great difficulty seeing objects and/or printed words even though they may already be wearing glasses.
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Hearing Problems |
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Some children may have difficulty hearing and/or distinguishing sounds and voices, even with hearing aids.
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Physical Development |
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Some children may have trouble learning to walk, move or work with small objects.
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Academic Development |
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Some children may have great difficulty learning to read, write or do arithmetic. Young children may have trouble with pre-school skills such as learning shapes and colors.
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Thinking/Memory Skills |
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Some children may have more difficulty than others in remembering what they see or hear. As a result, it may be a challenge for them to solve problems in daily living or schoolwork.
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Attention/Perception Skills |
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Some children may have difficulty processing or understanding information. As a result, it may be hard for them to pay attention or follow directions. |
Social/Emotional Development |
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Some children may have trouble managing their feelings and/or behavior. They may find it very difficult to get along with others. It may be hard for them to make friends or to cope with changes in their lives.
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Living Skills |
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Some children may be challenged by day-to-day activities such as dressing, feeding themselves or taking care of their basic health and grooming needs.
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Other Health Conditions |
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Some children have serious or chronic medical conditions that may interfere with school attendance or learning. |
What should I do if I believe my child needs special education? Call your local public school for assistance. Should your child need assessment for special education services you will be asked to give permission for the assessment in writing.
How long will the assessment take? When school is in session, the District must respond in writing to your request for an assessment within fifteen (15) days. If the District feels an assessment is necessary, you will be asked to sign an Assessment Plan. If the District decides not to assess your child, you have the right to appeal. Once the District has received your signed Assessment Plan, the assessment must be completed and the results shared with you at an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting within fifty (50) days.
What can I expect at an IEP meeting? You will be invited to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting which will be held to share the results of your child's assessment and determine if your child has special needs which make him or her eligible for special education services. If your child is eligible, the IEP will describe the services and programs they may need. If the District determines that your child is not eligible, you have the right to appeal that decision.
How do I find out more about my child's rights and my rights as a parent? Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) a child with disabilities may have a right to public education designed to meet their unique needs. To find out more about your child's rights, ask for a copy of the school district's publication, A Parents Guide to Special Education Services, at you local public school or office. This booklet provides detailed information about your protections under the law.
Where do I call for more information ? Call your local public school or (800) 933-8133 for additional assistance.
District policy states that parents and guardians of students with disabilities have the legal right to be fully informed, in the form of communication they best use about their child's identification, evaluation, placement, instruction and reevaluation for special education services. To meet this intent, District forms, notices, and procedural guides designed for parents of students with disabilities are developed to be readable and linguistically appropriate to the extent required by law.
Parents are also entitled to reasonable accommodation to enable their participation in their child's educational decision making. In addition to reasonable accommodations, for individuals with disabilities such as special communication needs or mobility assistance, accommodations which the parent may request in order to understand the content of forms and to participate in related meetings with school staff also include oral interpretation and written translation into the parent's primary language.
Resources
Parent and Community Support
A state-mandated committee
that provides information, training and support for parents of students with disabilities.
Offering workshops and presentations at local school sites and at Local District events, our goal is
to prepare parents to become effective partners in developing education plans for their children.
Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
The Community Advisory Committee. mandated by the state of California.
is composed of parents. professionals and community members, who
act to support students with disabilities.
Special Education Multiculural Advisory
Committee (SEMAC)
A parent advisory committee sponsored by the Division of Special
Education for parents of students with disabilities and others.
SEMAC sponsors monthly informational and training meetings related
to subjects of interest to parents. All parents and community members
are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate in the meetings.
Complaint Response Unit/Parent Resource
Network
The Los ANgeles Los Angeles Unified School District established
the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) Parent Resource Network (PRN)
to join the Division of Special Education to respond to concerns
of parents of students with disabilities.
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