Every SELPA and school district is required to have procedures in place to help locate students who may need special education services. If your child is not receiving special education services and you suspect there is a disability, please contact your child’s teacher or your local school to discuss your concerns. As a result of this discussion, your child may be referred to a Student Study Team (S.S.T.) for review. The S.S.T. is represented by both general education and special education staff members who review student progress and suggest interventions and strategies to assist students within the general education program. It is highly recommended that the S.S.T. meet to review a student’s progress prior to developing an assessment plan for suspected disabilities.

 

When a referral for a special education assessment is recommended, an assessment plan will be developed to include identified areas of suspected disability. You must receive a written notice from your school asking for your written, informed consent before any assessment begins, even if you have made a verbal request for an assessment. A copy of the Parents’ Rights will be included with the assessment plan. The assessment must be completed and an IEP (Individual Education Plan) team meeting will be scheduled within 60 calendar days of the date of receipt of your written consent for assessment.

 

If your child is under 2 years 10 months of age, please contact the Regional Center of Orange County for an intake interview. WOCCSE and its member districts, actively seek out individuals with exceptional needs, birth through age 21, including infants and preschoolers and children not enrolled in public school programs that reside in our geographic area.

 

Each year the Orange County Department of Education publishes a notice in the Orange County Register informing parents of their right to refer their child to their local school district to determine eligibility for special education services. Each district within WOCCSE, as part of its annual notification of parental rights and responsibilities, provides information regarding a parent’s right to request an educational assessment to determine eligibility for special education. 

 

Child find efforts are also carried out through the Student Study Team process at each school site.