Lompoc Unified School District

Special Education Services

We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and empowering learning environment for all students. We offer a combination of educational and related services as determined on an individual basis to meet the unique needs of the student, from early childhood through transition. Our goal is to ensure every student has access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed and reach their fullest potential. All special education programs within our district are aligned to the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) goals to ensure all students have access to a challenging curriculum, cultivate social-emotional development, and prepare students with the knowledge and skills for success beyond high school graduation.

Eligibility Criteria

A student, ages 3 through 22, having one or more of the following fourteen federally defined disabling conditions that adversely affect his or her educational performance may be eligible to receive special education services:

Autism
Deaf-Blindness
Deafness
Established Medical Disability (birth to five years old only)
Hearing Impairment (Hard of Hearing)
Intellectually Disabled
Multiple Disabilities
Orthopedic Impairment
Other Health Impairment
Serious Emotional Disability
Specific Learning Disability
Speech and Language Impairment
Traumatic Brain Injury
Visual Impairment

Eligibility for special education services is determined through an assessment process that identifies one or more impairments that prevent a student from accessing his or her education. A student may be performing significantly below the district's standards and additional services may be necessary for the student to access their education.

Referral for Evaluation for Special Education Services

Important procedural steps are required for a student to be identified for special education services, including starting with a Student Study Team (SST) meeting. For parents who suspect their student has difficulties in school, best practice is to provide various levels of intervention to students struggling academically or behaviorally. Parents are encouraged to start by discussing their concerns with their student’s classroom teacher and try to address them together. If concerns persist, parents can ask the student’s teacher to participate in a Student Success Team (SST). Each school has an SST, usually consisting of the student’s teacher, the parent, and other professionals, who review interventions available to the child and make intervention recommendations prior to assessing for Special Education. Based on the success of the interventions, the SST may ultimately recommend students for additional assessments.

Parents who want their student to be evaluated for special education services, must make a referral in writing to their student’s school or the LUSD Special Education department. The referral should:

Describe the concerns about your student’s development, learning, and/or behavior.
State that you are requesting a special education evaluation.
List any services your child has received or is currently receiving.
Include your child's full legal name and date of birth.
Include your name, address, and a telephone number where you can be reached.
State your preferred language, if it is not English.

Services

Special education for eligible students provides necessary specially-designed instruction, aids, and services, as determined by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. Children with disabilities younger than three are served by an IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan). Special education services can include:

Modified curriculum
Behavior plans
Speech and language instruction
Various accommodations
Adapted physical education
Occupational therapy
Educationally-related mental health services
Consultation with various school specialists

Extended School Year (ESY) services are offered to students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) indicating the need for services beyond the school year. ESY determination is made by the IEP team, based on criteria such as regression, recoupment, critical skill areas, and the nature/severity of the disability.

Transportation

LUSD provides transportation to students eligible for special education services with transportation needs outlined in their Individual Education Program (IEP). Transportation needs are determined by the IEP team, typically consisting of parents, teachers, school administrators, and other relevant professionals. The team assesses student's unique needs and considers factors such as the severity of disabilities, medical requirements, and the current educational setting.

Resources

Santa Barbara County SELPA Plan

Acronym	Definition
1:1	One-to-One Aide
2E	Twice Exceptional
504	Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
ABA	Applied Behavior Analysis
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
ADA	Average Daily Attendance
ADA	American Diabetes Association
ADD	Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD	Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADI	Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised
ADOS	Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale
ADR	Alternative Dispute Resolution
ALJ	Administrative Law Judge
APE	Adapted Physical Education
ASD	Autism Spectrum Disorder
ASHA	American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
AT	Assistive Technology
AVT	Auditory-Verbal Therapy
AUT	Autism
AYP	Average Yearly Progress
BA	Behavior Aide
BASC	Behavior Assessment Scale for Children
BCBA	Board Certified Behavior Analyst
BD	Behavior Disorder
BER	Behavior Emergency Report
BICM	Crisis Prevention Intervention
BIP	Behavior Intervention Plan
BOP	Burden Of Proof
BSP	Behavior Support Plan
BTA	Brief Test of Attention
CAHSEE	California High School Exit Exam
CAN	California Nurses Association
CARS	Childhood Autism Rating Scale
CASA	Court Appointed Special Advocate
CASL	Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language
CASP	California Association of School Psychologists
CAS	Cognitive Assessment System
CCC-SLP	Certificate of Clinical Competence for Speech Language Pathologist
CCS	California Children's Services
CDE	California Department of Education
CHAT	Checklist for Autism in Toddlers
CI	Cochlear Implant
CMH	County Department of Mental Health
CFT	Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test
CMS	Children's Memo Scales
COE	County Office of Education
CP	Cerebral Palsy
CPI	Crisis Prevention Intervention
CPS	Child Protective Services
CSHA	California Speech Language Hearing Association
CVLT	California Verbal Learning Test
CWA	Child Welfare and Attendance
DAP	Draw-A-Person
DD	Developmental Delay
DHH	Deaf Hard of Hearing
DIR	Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-Based Approach
DIS	Designated Instructional Services
D-KEFS	Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System
DMH	Department of Mental Health
DSM	Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th Edition
DTT	Discrete Trial Training
ED	Emotional Disturbance
EHA	Education for All Handicapped Children Act
EIBT	Early Intervention Behavior Therapy
ERMHS	Educationally Related Mental Health Services
ESD	Extended School Day
ELL	English Language Learner
ESY	Extended School Year
FAA	Functional Analysis Assessment
FAPE	Free Appropriate Public Education
FBA	Functional Behavior Assessment
FERPA	Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
GADS	Gilliam Asperger's Disorder Scale
GARS	Gilliam Autism Rating Scale
HHI	Home/Hospital Instruction
HI	Hearing Impaired
HIPAA	Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HOH	Hard of Hearing
IA	Instructional Aide
IAES	Interim Alternative Educational Setting
ID	Intellectual Disability
IDEA	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004
IDT	Inter-District Transfer
IEE	Independent Educational Evaluation
IEP	Individualized Education Program
IFSP	Individualized Family Services Plan
IQ	Intelligence Quotient
ISP	Individualized Services Plan
ITP	Individual Transition Plan
IWEN	Individual with Exceptional Needs
K-ABC	Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children
LCI	Licensed Children's Institution
LD	Learning Disability
LEA	Local Education Agency
LEP	Licensed Educational Psychologist
LEP	Limited English Proficient
LRE	Least Restrictive Environment
MCHAT	Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers
MD	Manifestation Determination
MD	Multiple Disabilities
MH	Mental Health
MH	Mildly Handicapped
MR	Mentally Retarded
MTD	Motion To Dismiss
NASP	National Association of School Psychologists
NCLB	No Child Left Behind Act
NEPSY	A Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment
NOI	Notice of Insufficiency
NPA	Non-Public Agency
NPS	Non-Public School
OAH	California Office of Administrative Hearings
OCD	Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCR	U.S. Office for Civil Rights
ODD	Oppositional Defiant Disorder
OHI	Other Health Impairment
OI	Orthopedic Impairment
OSEP	Office of Special Education Programs
OSERS	U.S. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services
OT	Occupational Therapy
OWLS	Oral and Written Language Scale
PBIS	Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports
PDD	Pervasive Developmental Disorder
PDD-NOS	Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
PECS	Picture Exchange Communication System
PENT	Positive Environments, Network of Trainers
PLOP	Present Levels of Performance
Pro-ACT	Professional Assault Crisis Training
PRT	Pivotal Response Therapy
PT	Physical Therapy
PWN	Prior Written Notice
RDI	Relationship Development Intervention
RSP	Resource Specialist Program
RTC	Residential Treatment Center
RTI	Response to Intervention
SAI	Specialized Academic Instruction
SARB	Student Attendance Review Board
SBE	State Board of Education
SDC	Special Day Class
SEA	State Education Agency
SELPA	Special Education Local Plan Area
SLD	Specific Learning Disability
SLI	Speech Language Impairment
SLP	Speech and Language Pathologist
SOL	Statute of Limitations
SST	Student Study Team
STAR	Standardized Testing and Reporting
TAPS	Test of Auditory-Perceptual Skills
TBI	Traumatic Brain Injury
TEACCH	Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children
TRO	Temporary Restraining Order
TVPS	Test of Visual-Perceptual Skills
USDOE	United States Department of Education
VI	Visual Impairment
VMI	Beery Buktenica Developmental Test Of Visual-Motor Integration
WJ	Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement or Cognition
WIAT	Wechsler Individual Achievement Test
WISC	Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
WMS	Wechsler Memory Scale
WRAML2	Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning