Special Education Services
Special Education Services
Barstow Unified School District offers a continuum of special education supports and services to all students who meet any of the 13 disability categories as defined by IDEA (2004). Each student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be implemented, and meetings will be scheduled on an annual basis to review progress and update goals. Each student with an IEP in the district is assigned a Case Manager who is responsible for following student's progress, coordinating services with all service providers, and communicating with the entire IEP team. Any questions or concerns about special education services should be addressed with the assigned Case Manager or the School Site Administrator.
Notice of Procedural Safeguards/Parents Rights:
Parents and Guardians of students with disabilities are afforded rights in the special education process. A full copy of the Parent Rights and Procedural Safeguards documents is to be offered to families at each annual Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting, and parents and guardians may ask any IEP team member questions about the process along the way.
A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS
(This is not an official document. It is used as a verbal reference by IEP facilitators.)
- You have a right to be a member of the IEP team to make decisions regarding the identification, evaluation, and educational placement of your child.
- The IEP team must consider your concerns regarding the education of your child.
- You have a right to invite other people to the IEP meeting.
- You have a right to informed consent before signing, for example, the IEP, Assessment Plan, or permission to enroll.
- You have a right to be informed of your child’s progress as often as parents of nondisabled children.
- You have a right to an independent educational evaluation at public expense if you disagree with the District’s assessment.
- You have a right to review records within 5 days of request.
- You have a right to record via audio an IEP meeting provided you give the IEP team 24-hour notice.
- You have a right to be notified of suspensions and participate in meetings about decisions on disciplinary actions or behavioral plans.
- You have a right to request a mediation conference and/or due process hearing if issues cannot be resolved at the school level.
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Also known as the "Search and Serve" requirement, "child find" refers to one of the foundational mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): that local educational agencies seek out children suspected of having a disability that would make them eligible for special education and related services and to serve them.
- Each special education local plan area submitting a local plan to the Superintendent under this part shall ensure that it has in effect policies, procedures, and programs that are consistent with state laws, regulations, and policies governing “child find and referral” (CA Education Code Section § 56205(a)(3).
- Having a coordinated system of identification and referral provides for meeting the legal requirements of each local educational agency (LEA) to actively and systematically seek out all individuals with exceptional needs, from birth to 21 years of age, inclusive, including children not enrolled in public school programs, who reside in a school district or are under the jurisdiction of a special education local plan area or a county office of education (CA Education Code § 56300).
- The Barstow Unified School District along with Desert/Mountain SELPA work to assure an ongoing effort to identify all individuals with disabilities including infants, children for whom English is not a primary language, students with low incidence disabilities, students attending private schools, children from families that are highly mobile, and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade. The SELPA works closely with public agencies such as Inland Regional Center (IRC), Head Start, California Children's Services (CCS), Behavioral Health, and others as appropriate in the identification of individuals with disabilities.
- Child find activities are the responsibility of each district and occur prior to a referral for special education services. Under both federal and state statutes and regulations, school districts are required to locate, identify, and assess all children with disabilities who reside within the district. The child find requirement applies to all children who reside within a State, including children who attend private schools and public schools, highly mobile children, migrant children, homeless children, and children who are wards of the state. (20 United States Code [U.S.C.] § 1412(a)(3)).
- If you believe your child may have special education needs, please contact the school site administrator or the Barstow Unified School District Pupil Services Department. The first step to determine if your child qualifies for special education services is to make a referral to your child's school district (local education agency).
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Parent Friendly Materials/Resources
- Alphabet Soup | Sopa De Letras
- Parent's Rights (Summarized) | Derechos De Los Padres (Resumen)
- I.E.P. Meeting Checklist | Lista de Verificación De Juntas I.E.P.
Resources at BUSD:
- Barstow Unified School District Board Policy on Identification & Evaluation of Individuals with Disabilities
- Barstow Unified School District Board Regulation on Identification & Evaluation of Individuals with Disabilities
- Barstow Unified School District Board Policy on Procedural Safeguards and Complaints for Special Education
- Barstow Unified School District Board Regulation on Procedural Safeguards and Complaints for Special Education
- Barstow Unified School District Board Policy on Individualized Education Program
- Barstow Unified School District Board Regulation on Individualized Education Program
Other Resources :
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Desert Mountain SELPA/CAHELP Website
- Desert Mountain SELPA Local Plan
- Desert Mountain SELPA Policies
- Disability Rights California Website
- CDE Procedural Safeguards
- CDE Parent Rights
- CDE Resources on IEP's for Children with Disabilities
- CAHELP Special Education Terminology
- Judicial Council of California: Special Education Rights for Children and Families
Special Education/504 Liaisons
Barstow Unified School Districts has our Special Education (SpEd)/504 Liaison which is a neutral and confidential resource for families in BUSD that provide support, guidance, and assistance to parents and guardians of students with special needs during the Special Education and Section 504 processes. Click here for more information regarding our liaisons.
If you would like to request assistance from one of the staff members please complete the online Special Education/504 Liaisons Request Form
- Printable: Liaison Request Form / Formulario de Solicitud de Enlace
Or call 760-255-6028
One of our SpEd/504 Liaisons will contact you.