1. Day 1 By Jarice Butterfield Ph. D. SBCSELPA Director
SPECIAL EDUCATION ACADEMY FOR GENERAL & SPECIAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS
Day 1
By Jarice Butterfield Ph. D. SBCSELPA Director

2. Agenda Overview of SELPA – Jarice Butterfield
IDEA; 13 Eligibility categories for SPED; LRE
Continuum of Program Options / Regional Programs
Non Public Agencies and Schools (NPA) and (NPS) 2

3. Overview of SBCSELPA sbcselpa.org
SBCSELPA provides oversight, guidance, training and support to member local education agencies (LEAs), parents, guardians, and the community related to identifying and providing compliant, best practice Individualized Education Plan (IEP) services to students with disabilities.
sbcselpa.org 3

4. What is a SELPA
SELPAs ensure that students with disabilities have a access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE)….
In the least restrictive environment (LRE)
As described in the IEP designed to provide “educational benefit” 4

5. What Does SBCSELPA Do?
Santa Barbara County Special Education Local Plan Area (SBCSELPA), is a Joint Powers Agency that… 5

6. What Does SBCSELPA Do?
1) Oversees and facilitates the implementation of special education programs administered by the Local Education Agencies (LEAs) or school districts within Santa Barbara County… 6

7. What Does SBCSELPA Do?
2) Develops policies and procedures for special education programs throughout Santa Barbara County… 7

8. What Does SBCSELPA Do?
3) Provides guidance regarding federal & state special education laws and regulations to all stakeholders (LEAs/school districts, parents, & community members) 8

9. What Does SBCSELPA Do?
4) Allocates state and federal funding to all 22 LEAs/school districts in Santa Barbara County, based on the Board approved funding model, to provide special education services to students with disabilities 9

10. What Does SBCSELPA Do?
5) Coordinates and provides training/professional development to school district staff, community members, and parents to further their knowledge in the area of Special Education… 10

11. What Does SBCSELPA Do?
6) Facilitates “job-alike” networking meetings for special education professionals… 11

12. What Does SBCSELPA Do?
7) Oversees the placement & services of students whose education needs cannot be met within the continuum of program options available within SBCSELPA who are placed by IEP teams in Non Public Schools (NPS) residential treatment centers (RTC) 12

13. What Does SBCSELPA Do?
8) Initiates Master Contracts for NPA on behalf of LEA/School Districts
Any contractor providing IEP services must have NPA licensure through the California Department of Education (CDE)
NPA providers may only provide IEP related services
LEA/School Districts must do an Individual Service Agreement (ISA) for all contract services 13

14. What Does SBCSELPA Do?
9) Maintains a website containing the Local Plan, JPA Board agendas, and other resources for parents, teachers, and administrators.

15. What Does SBCSELPA Do?
10) Provides Training and Support in the ADR Process; Engages in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for LEAs/Districts and Parent/guardians
LEAs/Districts administrators or IEP chairs have been trained in IEP collaboration and Facilitated IEPS
A SBCSELPA team of ADR Specialists is available to assist LEAs/District resolve disputes at the local level in order to ensure students get FAPE and avoid due process 15

16. Types/Levels of ADR Services available from SBCSELPA
Level I ADR
All LEA site leaders (that oversee IEPs) & SPED Administrators have been trained in ADR Best Practices by an outside, nationally-known consultant (TBD) one full day
Two-three follow-up round table meetings took place after SEAM to do group work and follow-up coaching with the SELPA ADR Team (for special education administrators and other site administrators from LEAs)

17. Types/Levels of ADR Services available from SBCSELPA
Level II ADR
The SBCSELPA has a designated, fully trained Facilitated IEP and ADR Mediation team
SBCSELPA funded a mediator certification for all designated ADR CADRE team members
SBCSELPA provided a comprehensive training in facilitated IEP training to the designated SELPA ADR team and special education administrators (optional) 17

18. Types/Levels of ADR Services available from SBCSELPA
Level III ADR
SELPA Director is available to LEAs/districts to conduct due process filing resolution sessions (non attorney involved resolution sessions) and help guide the process
SELPA Director is available to LEAS/districts and parent/guardians to conduct ADR meetings as requested by either party

19. When to Request a Facilitated IEP or ADR Meeting
IEP is not Consented to – LEA/District team has made one or more attempt to resolve an offer of FAPE IEP dispute with a family; LEA may call an ADR meeting prior to filing for due process
Parent/guardian threatens to or files a complaint with the LEA/District or SBCSELPA
Parent/guardian files a complaint with the California Department of Education (CDE)

20. Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)20

21. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act “IDEA”
Students with disabilities have a right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE)….
In the least restrictive environment (LRE)
As described in the IEP designed to provide “educational benefit” 21

22. 13 Categories of Eligibility for Special Education Under IDEA
Autism
Deaf-Blindness
Deafness
Emotional Disturbance
Hearing Impairment
Intellectual Disability
Multiple Disabilities
Orthopedic Impairment
Other Health Impairment
Specific Learning Disability
Speech or Language Impairment
Traumatic Brain Injury
Visual Impairment – including blindness 22

23. Designed to provide “Educational Benefit”23

24. Guiding Principles of IDEA
High Expectations and Accountability
Improving Results through the General Curriculum
Education with Typically Developing Peers
Parental Involvement and Partnerships
Increased Efficiency and Flexibility 24

25. Parent Involvement
Strengthening the role and responsibility of parents
Ensuring that families have meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children at school and at home; 25

26. LANDMARK FAPE CASES Rowley Versus Endrew F. Case26

27. Rowley Decision
In 1982 in the Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 176 (1982), the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the level of instruction and services necessary to provide FAPE. This case set a precedence and is referred to as the ROWLEY STANDARD of FAPE 27 27 27

28. Rowley Decision (Continued)
U.S. Supreme Court concluded that the IDEA does not require that States maximize the potential of students with disabilities. 28 28 28

29. Rowley Decision (Continued)
Under the “Rowley Standard” An Appropriate IEP Is One That:
Is calculated to provide educational benefit, according to the student’s individual needs as assessed at the time the offer of FAPE is made
Is likely to produce more than trivial educational advancement 29

30. 2016 Endrew F. Case
In Endrew F. the Supreme Court ruled that districts must go the extra mile to accommodate students with disabilities
Endrew F.’s was a student with autism whose parents felt public school had failed him. They sought reimbursement for a private school placement.
The higher standard of FAPE was endorsed by the Obama Administration and Democratic members of Congress.
Great concern that this will result in much higher costs without adequate funding 30

31. 2016 Endrew F. Case Continued
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court that a “child’s education program must be appropriately ambitious in light of his circumstances, just as advancement from grade to grade is appropriately ambitious for most children in the regular classroom.” 31

32. What Is Least Restrictive Environment “LRE”?
To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities…are educated with children who are not disabled
Special classes, separate schooling, or other removal…from the regular educational environment occurs only if the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily
34 CFR Section

33. Education with Typically Developing Peers Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Research supports the instruction of students with disabilities in general education with typically developing peers
Service in general education means needed supports and modifications 33

34. Annual Performance Report (APR) Indicator #5 LRE
Districts are rated annually on LRE and receive sanctions if the LRE indicators are not met 34

35. APR Report Activity • Go to CDE Website http://www. cde. ca
APR Report Activity • Go to CDE Website  Specialized Programs  Special Education - Data Collection & Reporting  Annual Report Measures (scroll to bottom)  Select the letter corresponding to your district 1. Are there any indicators not met?

36. Leadership Strategies to
Promote Inclusion
Creating a Culture of Inclusion:
Review incident reports or APR report to determine whether students with disabilities are disproportionately represented in SPED
Celebrate inclusion daily and during Inclusive schools week Dec. 2-6
Invite parents of students with disabilities in to discuss what’s working and what’s not
The Special Educator Vo. 29 Issue LRP

37. CONTINUUM OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PLACEMENT OPTIONS37

38. Continuum of Placement Options
Least Restrictive General Education 100% of the school day 
General Education the majority of the school day with some pull out time 
Pull out into a special education environment the majority of the school day (special class) on comprehensive school campus
Pull out into a special education classroom not
on a comprehensive school campus
Non public School Placement with residential treatment
Home instruction 38

39. NON PUBLIC SCHOOL PLACEMENTS (NPS)39

40. Non Public Schools (NPS)
Are private schools that provide educational programs to students with IEPS – may be
1) day treatment program only, or
2) day treatment with residential component (NPS RTC)
Santa Barbara County has NO NPS – so students must go to RTC if they need a NPS
Students are placed in a NPS if the district is unable to provide FAPE due to no continuum of program options available to serve the student 40

41. Non Public Schools (NPS) Cont’d
Must seek NPS Certification through the California Department of Education (CDE)
NPS must have a MASTER CONTRACT with SELPA
An Individual Services Agreement (ISA) must be drafted and maintained for each student served by in a NPS
Are costly $175,000 - $350,000 per year per student
In SBCSELPA the SELPA funds the NPS placement if a referral is made by the district that meets the Local Plan criteria 41

42. NON PUBLIC AGENCY (NPA) RELATED SERVICES42

43. What is a NPA and When are They Utilized
Are private agencies that provide IEP “RELATED SERVICES”
Must have a MASTER CONTRACT with SELPA
Must seek NPA Certification through the California Department of Education (CDE)
An Individual Services Agreement (ISA) must be drafted and maintained for each student served by a NPA
Are costly and used when the district is not able to provide a “related service” in a IEP
NPA must have the appropriate required CDE licensure to provide the related service or services 43

44. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 44