Click Here to Read the SELPA Administrators of California Statement Against AAPI Violence and Hate
SELPAs within the Statewide System of Support
California is in the midst of a bold educational reform effort that fundamentally changes how the state provides resources to local educational agencies (LEAs). This reform effort holds LEAs accountable for improving student performance and narrowing performance gaps among student groups. The most pronounced of the performance gaps relates to meeting the needs of California’s students with disabilities. As the new accountability system shines a spotlight on students with disabilities, Special
Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs) are positioned to leverage a well-established resource network to support LEAs in improving outcomes for students with disabilities. In response to the California Statewide Special Education Task Force calling for “one coherent system” to serve all students, the California Department of Education (CDE) initiated a “Statewide System of Support” to assist LEAs and their schools in meeting the needs of each student served, with a focus on building capacity to sustain improvement and effectively address inequities in student opportunities and outcomes.
An Integrated and Statewide System of Support
Building
capacity of LEAs to implement high-leverage and evidence-based practices
Participating
in their LEA LCAP process
Developing
Annual Assurance Support Plans to align SELPA goals and services to LEA LCAP priorities
Facilitating
LEA improvement efforts to ensure best practices and a culture of continuous improvement
Providing
oversight and monitoring to ensure a full continuum of educational options (including oversight of non-public schools)
Capacity Builders
SELPAs provide targeted technical assistance resulting in quality programs with aspirational goals for student achievement and engagement in the least restrictive environment.
As partners in Quality Assurance Monitoring and Differentiated Assistance processes, SELPAs utilize continuous improvement as a framework for identifying equity gaps and improving student outcomes.
SELPAs provide professional development on high leverage and evidenced-based practices as well as collaborate with statewide reform efforts.
Facilitators
SELPAs facilitate equity in local decision-making and access to the full continuum of supports and services in the least restrictive environment for students with disabilities.
Leadership support for local governance structures is provided by SELPAs in the allocation of resources and dissemination of essential information.
SELPAs collaborate with LEAs to ensure alignment of statewide and local improvement efforts.
SELPAs build positive relationships among stakeholders to ensure quality outcomes for students by providing conflict prevention services and trainings.
Connectors
SELPAs ability to connect is rooted in the foundation of shared leadership, local control, expertise in a variety of areas, and relationships across many perspectives - education, advocacy, community, and policy.
As a member of the System of Support, SELPAs provide technical assistance including Differentiated Assistance and work with the LCAP development to improve student achievement.
SELPAs encourage parent and community engagement within the LEAs through the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that provides a forum for collaboration, training, and advisory of Special Education Programs and Services.
Through interagency partnerships, SELPAs leverage resources and opportunities to help districts and families access specialized services and supports, enhance learning opportunities and develop innovative programs to improve outcomes for children.
