This webpage is designed to meet the needs of families who are new to the special education process, are in need of a parent liaison with their school district, or who are seeking opportunities for support from other families facing similar challenges. We invite you to check our calendar for community events on a regular basis, follow our links to your district's SEDAC (Special Education District Advisory Council) and community agencies, and to find answers to your questions in the RPC Handbook section. If you can't find what you are looking for, please contact the SELPA Coordinator at (650) 802-5473.
Resource Parent Council
Community Advisory Committee Meetings
Meetings are held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the San Mateo County Office of Education, unless otherwise indicated, and are live streamed.
Community Advisory Committee Meeting
Community Advisory Committee Meeting
Community Advisory Committee Meeting
Community Advisory Committee Meeting
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Miss a Community Advisory Committee meeting? Check our video archive below for recordings and materials.
Transitions; From Preschool Through High School and Adult Transition Programs
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General Information:
- Creating a Home Where Your Disabled Child can Thrive
- PHP (Parents Helping Parents)
- PHP Video; Get an Early Start
Autism:
- Students with Autism
- Guide to Helping Kids with Autism Sleep Better
- Autism Resource Center
- Creating an Autism Friendly Home
- Autism Support Network Resources
- Moving Kids with Autism
- 30 Ways to Celebrate Autism Awareness Month
- Travelling with Kids with Autism
Contact Karen Breslow if you have a resource you would like to see added to our library.
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Introduction
- From the RPC
- From the SELPA
- Getting Started
- Tip Sheet: Confidentiality in Daily Practice for Parents and Professionals
- Tip Sheet: Telephone and E-Mail Tips
The Student Study Team
- The SST Process: What exactly is an SST? Should I be concerned my child was referred? Who will attend the SST? What should I expect will happen at the meeting?
- Tip Sheet: SST Summary Form
- Tip Sheet: How does the SST help my child?
Special Education Services
- What are special education services?
- What are Related Services? What are the age limits for Special Education? When is a child eligible for Special Education Services? When is a child NOT eligible for Special Education services?
- Fast Facts: What is Special Education? What is the pre-assessment process?
Assessment Timelines
- Assessment phase explained
- Assessment Timeline / Proceso Fecha Limite
- Tip Sheet: How do I keep track of timelines & other significant dates?
Assessment Process
- What will my child's assessment involve? Who will do the actual testing? What will they be testing for? What if I disagree with the results of this assessment?
- Tip Sheet: Summary of the assessment process
- Tip Sheet: IEP meeting prep ideas
- Tip Sheet: Keeping accurate records
Preparing For Your Childs IEP Meeting
- How can I prepare for my child's IEP meetings?
- IEP preparation checklist / Como prepararse para reunion de IEP listado
- Request for Parent Information for IEP Meeting Form / Peticion de Informacion de Los Padres Para La Junta de IEP
- Take a moment to consider…
- Welcome to Holland-an open letter to parents / Bienvenido a Holanda
At the IEP Meeting
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- ADA - American with Disabilities Act, Average Daily Attendance
- ADR - Appropriate Dispute Resolution
- ALJ - Administrative Law Judge
- APE - Adapted Physical Education
- AU - Administrative Unit
- BIP - Behavior Intervention Plan
- CAA - California Alternative Assessments
- CAASP - California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
- CAC - Community Advisory Committee (see Resource Parent Council section)
- CalSTAT - California Services for Technical Assistance and Training
- CASEMIS - California Special Education Management Information System
- CAST - California Alternative Science Test
- CBEDS - California Basic Educational Data System
- CCR - California Code of Regulations, Coordinated Compliance Review
- CCS - California Children Services
- COLA - Cost of Living Adjustment
- CDE - California Department of Education
- CFR - Code of Federal Regulations
- COE - County Office of Education
- DINC - Data Informed Non-Compliance
- EC - Education Code
- ECE - Early Childhood Education
- ESY - Extended School Year
- FBA - Functional Behavioral Assessment
- FAPE - Free and Appropriate Public Education
- FEP - Fluent English Proficient
- FERPA - Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
- FFH - Foster Family Home
- FIEP - Facilitated Individualized Educational Program
- FMTA - Focused Monitoring Technical Assistance
- FRC - Family Resource Center
- FTE - Full-Time Equivalent
- GGRC - Golden Gate Regional Center
- IA - Instructional Assistant
- IDEA - Individualized with Disabilities Education Act
- KPI - Key Performance Indicators
- HI - Hearing Impairment
- ID - Intellectual Disability
- IEE - Independent Educational Evaluation
- IEP - Individualized Educational Program
- ISP - Individual Services Plan
- IFSP - Individual Family Service Plan
- ITP - Individual Transition Plan
- LCI - Licensed Children's Institutions
- LEA - Local Educational Agency
- LEP - Limited English Proficient
- LIF - Low Incidence Funding
- LRE - Least Restrictive Environment
- MIS - Management Information System
- MTU - Medical Therapy Unit
- NPA - Non-Public Agency
- NPS - Non-Public School
- OAH - Office of Administrative Hearings
- OCR - Office of Civil Rights
- OHI - Other Health Impairment
- OI - Orthopedic Impairment
- O&M - Orientation and Mobility
- OSEP - Office of Special Education Programs
- OT- Occupational Therapy
- PIR - Performance Indicator Review
- PT - Physical Therapy
- QAP - Quality Assurance Process
- RLA - Responsible Local Agency
- RSP - Resource Specialist Program
- SAI - Specialized Academic Instruction
- SCIA - Special Circumstances Instructional Assistance
- SEA - State Educational Agency
- SEIS - Special Education Information System
- SDC - Special Day Class
- SOP - State Operated Programs
- SLD - Specific Learning Disability
- SST - Student Study Team
- SLI - Speech/Language Impairment
- STAR - State Testing and Reporting
- TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury
- TDS - Therapeutic Day School
- ED - Emotional Disturbance
- SELPA - Special Education Local Plan Area
- VI - Visual Impairment
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The San Mateo County SELPA is seeking young people from birth to age 21 who may need special education services, including highly mobile (such as migrant or homeless) children with disabilities and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education. If you believe your child may have any of these special needs, please contact your local school district or the SELPA Office at (650) 802-5464.
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A Parent Communication for Special Education (English) (Spanish)
Assessment for Special Education (English) (Spanish)
Continuum of Services/Placement Options (English) (Spanish)
Early Start to District Services/Timeline (English) (Spanish)
Glossary of Special Education Terms and Acronyms (English) (Spanish)
How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting (English) (Spanish)
IEP Document Components (English) (Spanish)
IEP Team Meeting (English) (Spanish)
Individualized Education Process/Timeline (English) (Spanish)
Keeping Accurate Records (English) (Spanish)
Parent Rights/Procedural Safeguards (Chinese - traditional, Chinese - simplified, English, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese)
Preschool/Daycare Teacher's Report (English) (Spanish)
Request for Parent Information for IEP Meeting (English) (Spanish)
Resource Parent Guide to "Procedural Safeguards" (English) (Spanish)
Student Eligibility (English) (Spanish)
Telephone/Email Tips (English) (Spanish)
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In this section, parents and professionals will find the definition of commonly used terms. The definitions are brief and general in nature. The list also includes commonly used words that are not included in either the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) or California Education Code, but are very frequently used.
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In 2015, A Statewide Special Education Task Force produced a report calling for one integrated system of public education that ensures students with disabilities receive effective services, learn in classrooms that are guided by rigorous standards alongside their general education peers, and are equipped to make their own way as adults. The report, titled “One System, Reforming Education to Serve all Students,” includes recommendations that transform California’s education policies and practices from early learning to special education financing.
Early Learning Subcommittee Report
Evidence-Based Practices Subcommittee Report