Special Education Services
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Dear SMMUSD Families,
Thank you for visiting the special education website. We hope you had a wonderful summer! It is almost time to begin the school year again. We will begin this school year using a Distance Learning model. We look forward to working with you!
Special Education Resources Specialized Academic Instruction
> Parent Information > Arranged by class
Presentation from June 8, 2020 Parent Meeting
Letters from Director Deanna Sinfield
Parent Resource Network:
Would you like to sign up as a member of our Parent Resource Network (PRN), please complete the form below.
Child Find:
Child find activities are the responsibility of each district and occur prior to a referral for special education services. These activities are designed to locate individuals, birth through 21 years of age, including children not enrolled in public school programs as well as children who are homeless or wards of the state and reside in the district and may be eligible for and in need of special education and/or related services. Child find activities also foster awareness and understanding on the part of educators, parents and other community members of the referral procedures for special education, the eligibility criteria, and the continuum of special education programs and services available. Child find activities inform educators, community agencies, and parents/guardians of their right to refer their child for a special education assessment to determine eligibility and the need for special education services. (E.C. § 56300 and 56301)
Read the Child Find flyerCore Values:
Our values are motivated by our beliefs in each individual with a disability.
The range of human diversity is embraced and the rights of all equity and access are guaranteed. Individuals will be educated in general education or natural environment to the maximum extent possible. Each individual will have options and be prepared to make choices.Goals:
- All students unique instructional needs will be accurately identified.
- All students will be served or taught by fully qualified personnel.
- All students with disabilities will be successfully integrated with non-disabled peers throughout their educational experience.
- All students with disabilities will meet high standards for academic and non-academic skills.
- All students with disabilities will successfully participate in preparation for the workplace and independent living.
Special Education Coordinators
If you have questions that your school site cannot answer, you may schedule an appointment to meet/speak with the appropriate Special Education Coordinator:
- Elementary Schools - Francis Costanzo, 310-450-8338 x70378
- JAMS, Lincoln, SMASH, Malibu Middle and High - Joseph Garcia, 310-450-8338 x70227
- Preschool, Private Schools, NPS, RTC- Victoria Hurst, 310-450-8338 x70295
- Santa Monica HS, Olympic and Off-Campus Learning Center, PPBL- Hilda Salas, 310-450-8338 x70225
Resources for Parents
Click the links below to access these useful guides created for parents of special education students.
Newsletters
December 2019 l Español
October 2019 l Español
Parent Guidelines for Help - Who You Gonna Call?
Help, Assistance, and Answers - English
Help, Assistance, and Answers - Spanish
Parent Resource Network Brochure
Click here to read the PRN Brochure
Parents’ Rights and Procedural Safeguards
English
SpanishPrivate School FAQ Brochure
Read the brochure
Transition Information
Transition Handbook English
Transition Handbook Spanish
Transitions Tip Sheet
Transitions Presentation Flow Map
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COVID-19 FAQs
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Does SB98 have requirements for Individualized Education Program (IEPs)?
Yes. SB-98 requires that each Individualized Education Program (IEP) include a description of the services to be provided under “emergency conditions” in which instruction cannot be delivered in-person for more than 10 school days.
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How will SMMUSD support special education students during Fall 2020?
During distance learning special education teachers will continue to support students with IEPs by working with small groups of students, co-teaching lessons, collaborating with general education teachers virtually and scheduling and holding virtual IEP meetings. Related service providers (speech therapists, occupational therapists, etc.) will also continue to support students virtually.
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What is Senate Bill 98 (SB-98)?
Senate Bill 98 is a new California law that was approved in July 2020 along with the state budget. The new law addresses required standards for public schools and provides guidance and recommendations for education during times of emergencies.
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What does SB-98 require for all students?
The school day has new required instructional minutes as follows:
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- Kindergarten - 3 Hours (180 minutes)
- 1st - 3rd grade - 3 hours 50 min (230 minutes)
- 4th - 12th grade - 4 hours (240 minutes)
Minutes are delivered through a combination of live synchronous lessons, asynchronous lessons, and independent practice.Each student must have a daily live interaction with a teacher (via Zoom, Google Meets, or telephone). School staff must take attendance and document daily student participation.
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What is an Emergency Learning Plan?
SB-98 defines an Emergency Learning Plan as a description of the services in an IEP to be provided under “emergency conditions” in which instruction cannot be delivered in-person for more than 10 school days.
As of June 29, 2020, Emergency Learning Plans must be developed at initial IEPs, or at the next regularly scheduled revision of the IEP.
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Is my Distance Learning Plan from Spring 2020 the same as the new Emergency Learning Plan?
The Emergency Learning Plans will replace the Distance Learning Plans created in Spring 2020. The Emergency Learning Plans should be more robust, as SB98 requires daily live instruction and improve upon our learnings from the Spring of 2020. For students in Special Day Classes, case managers will ensure that each student receives the minimum number of instructional minutes required by SB-98.
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What has to be included in the Emergency Learning Plan (ELP)?
- Emergency Learning Plans must include a description of how: Special education and related services; Supplementary aids and services; Transition services; and Extended school year services will be provided under “emergency conditions.”
- The Emergency Learning Plan should include synchronous (live via Zoom, Google Meets, or telephone ) and asynchronous (video models, packets, google classroom) instruction and related services.
- Because SMMUSD is starting the 2020-21 school year with Distance Learning under emergency conditions, Case Managers in collaboration with families will develop Emergency Learning Plans.
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During Distance Learning, will students be mainstreamed/included into general education classes?
- Yes, Emergency Learning Plans should be designed to provide students with disabilities comparable opportunities for mainstreaming as when instruction is in-person‒most importantly, for live synchronous instruction.
- In order to ensure mainstreaming occurs, case managers and general education teachers will coordinate schedules in order to provide students with disabilities the opportunity to interact with typically developing peers.
