SPECIAL EDUCATION

California Special Education Programs, a Composite of Laws (31st Edition): Every parent of a child who is eligible for special education should have a copy of this.  Click on the link and obtain your free copy. 

California Content Standards: To obtain a copy of the content standards for each grade level, go to the California State Board of Education website.

Teacher Qualifications: Both the "No Child Left Behind" Act and the newly reauthorized IDEA raise the standards for teacher qualifications.  To find out the qualifications of your child's teacher, go to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.


Office of Administrative Hearings: The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is a quasi-judicial tribunal.  OAH provides adjudicatory, mediation, and settlement services throughout the state to school districts and parents of special needs children.  OAH decisions, orders, and forms can be found at the OAH website.

Non-Public Agencies and Non-Public Schools: To obtain a list of the non-public schools and non-public agencies, please go to the California Department of Education.  

United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs' (OSEP's) IDEA Website: This website was created to provide a "one-stop-shop" for resources related to IDEA and its implementing regulations. 

OSEP: This website provides information, guidance, and clarification regarding implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  You will find OSEP Memos and Dear Colleague Letters, and OSEP Policy Letters on a variety of topics, including independent educational evaluations, bullying, home schooling, least restrictive environment, charter schools, and eligibility.   

Directory of Regional Centers: California has 21 regional centers with more than 40 offices located throughout the state that serve individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. 

Wrightslaw: Wrightslaw is a great resource for all national special education issues.  They have several publications that are geared specifically towards parents.

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates: COPAA is an independent, non-profit organization of attorneys, advocates, and parents whose primary mission is to secure high quality educational services for children with disabilities.

National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education: NAPCSE is a place where parents of children in special education can find everything they need to be their child's best advocate. 

The following websites are designed to provide you and your family with information and resources regarding a specific disability:

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder:
http:www.chadd.org
http:www.ldonline.org

Autism:
http://www.autismspeaks.org
http://www.autism-society.org

Specific Learning Disability:
https://ldaamerica.org/

Dyslexia:
https://dyslexiala.org/
https://decodingdyslexiaca.org/

Visual Impairments:
https://www.partnersforpediatricvision.org/

For all other disabilities (including serious emotional disturbance, intellectual disability, hearing impairments, orthopedic impairments, speech or language impairments, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments), please go to the National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education's website.  



SCHOOL DISCIPLINE

Dignity in Schools: The Dignity in Schools Campaign (DSC) challenges the systemic problem of push-out in our nation's schools, and advocates for the human right of every child to a quality education and to be treated with dignity.  The DSC unites policy advocates, parent and student organizers, educators, and lawyers in a campaign to promote local and national alternatives to a culture of zero-tolerance, punishment, and removal.


DISCRIMINATION

United States Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights: The mission of the Office of Civil Rights is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights. 


IMMIGRATION

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is a way for abused, abandoned, and neglected children without legal immigration status to remain in the United States lawfully.  SIJS is available for children who have been declared dependent upon a juvenile court, are in need of long-term foster care, and for whom return to their country of origin is not in their best interest.  For more information, please go to: https://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-sijs.htm

Immigrant Legal Resource Center
: The mission of the ILRC is to work with and educate immigrants, community organizations, and the legal sector to continue to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people.



**Miho Murai, Esq. does not sponsor, endorse, or otherwise approve of the materials appearing in any of these links.**