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The Sonoma County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) is a state-mandated association that oversees and facilitates educational services for students with disabilities in Sonoma County.

The Sonoma County SELPA believes that all students can learn. Our mission is to support special education students in achieving a high level of academic/functional performance according to national, state, and local standards. To assure this outcome, the SELPA department will provide information, resources and support to students, parents, and all school staff.

Notice of Public Hearing, December 5

A hearing on the 2011-12 annual service plan for the Sonoma County SELPA will be held on December 5, at 8:00am, in the Santa Rosa City Schools Board Room. See this public notice (pdf) for additional information.

NEW! Autism Authorization Certification

In accordance with guidelines from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), special education teachers who are not authorized to instruct students with autism, based on their credential skill set, must obtain authorization from an accredited program by October 1, 2013. While other disabling conditions will also require additional authorizations, depending on the credential of the teacher, attention to the autism authorization is acute due to the high rate of identification and intensive service needs of those students. For additional information, please refer to this correspondence from the CTC (pdf) or contact Dr. Jeff Heller in the SCOE Human Resources Department.

One of the key issues is how to assist teachers in obtaining this authorization by the deadline with the least burdensome pathway at the lowest cost. A plan was approved to support teachers who will be required to obtain this authorization and receive partial reimbursement of the cost. Please see this memo from Catherine Conrado, Ed.D., (pdf) for more information.

NEW! Mental Health Services for Students with Disabilities

Effective July 1, 2011, the California Legislature and the Governor shifted responsibility for mental health services for students with disabilities from County Mental Health to Public Schools, repealing certain portions of AB3632. To assist member districts with the transition, the SELPA has worked with Sonoma County Mental Health (SMCH) to establish funding streams, procedures, services, and develop of a Memo of Understanding. Refer to the following PDF documents for additional clarification:

Out-of-County Residential Contract
Out-of-County Contract ISA, Exhibit A
ISA for Sonoma County Mental Health Services
ISA for Vendor and County Mental Health Services

Mental Health Services in the Schools PowerPoint
Mental Health Casemis Service Codes
Child Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS)
Visual - New Student Referrals
Visual - Existing Student Referrals
Group Home Standard Schedule of Rates
Legal Update: Mental Health Services
Legal Handout 1 - What Does IDEA Say?
Legal Handout 2 - What Has Been Determined by the Courts?
Selected Legal Cases
Code Changes Related to Mental Health Services

Resource Book

Meeting the Needs of English Learners with Disabilities (pdf) is a resource book developed on behalf of the State SELPA Association and available for use in Sonoma County.

Process for Closing a Special Day Class

At its February meeting, the Superintendents Council approved a new Process for District/LEA/Consortium Closing a Special Day Class (pdf).

IEP Forms

Link to the Web-Based IEP System
Access Downloadable Forms and Templates
State SELPA IEP Manual (pdf) revised 7/10

NPS / NPA Information and Forms

2011-12 information and forms for Non-Public Schools & Agencies
2010-11 information and forms for Non-Public Schools & Agencies