SPED Program
SELPA Membership
Each school district is part of a Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). The SELPA Director helps to ensure that each school district is adhering to legal requirements.
The SELPA also coordinates with school districts for the delivery of services to provide consistent and equitable education to all Special Education students from school district to school district. Hickman Community Charter District is a member of the Stanislaus SELPA.
Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is open to parents, caregivers, guardians, grandparents, and family members with children in general and special education, and educators and representatives of local agencies who are interested in quality education for the disabled. Click here for a brochure.
Contact Information
SELPA Office: 209-541-2944
Special Education
The Special Education Department is responsible for providing and coordinating the following
district programs: 1) Special Education services, 2) Psychological and Counseling services.
The mission of the department is to provide quality services to students, staff and families.
The department provides essential preventative and intervention services to all students in
the district.
No qualified person (student) with a disability is excluded from, denied benefits of, or
subjected to discrimination in any course, program, service, or activity solely on the basis of
disability.
Student Study Team
In the public school system, before referring a child for Special Education Services, the school district is required to provide various levels of intervention to students struggling academically or behaviorally. Each school has a team, usually consisting of the child's teacher, the parent, and other professionals, who review interventions available to the child and make intervention recommendations prior to assessing for Special Education.
If you suspect your child may have some difficulties in school you can seek help by discussing your concerns with your child's teacher(s). You may find that the teacher shares your concerns and is trying to address them in the classroom setting. If your concerns continue, you should contact your child's teacher again and ask that a Student Study Team meeting. Information regarding your child will be gathered by staff for that meeting.
Student Study Team (SST) Process
Students experiencing academic and/or behavioral problems in the general education program may be referred for discussion to the Student Study Team by anyone having knowledge of their functioning, including: physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers and parents. The referral will be reviewed by the Student Study Team at the local school site.
The Student Study Team is a regular education forum composed of personnel with varying specialties and experience chaired by the principal or designee of the school site. It is the intent of the SST to act as a resource when intervention assistance is sought. The SST may suggest regular program interventions within the classroom and/or support services available to all students.
The Student Study Team may include the following personnel:
● Assistant principal/Administrator/Designee
● School psychologist
● School counselor
● Community liaison
● Resource specialist teacher
● Reading specialist
● General education teacher
● Parents
You may be invited to attend the SST meeting, share information about your child's school performance and talk about your concerns. The team may decide that modifications of the general education program are appropriate to address your child's needs. If so, these modifications or interventions will be written and monitored.
If these modifications/interventions are not successful, the SST may ultimately recommend additional assessment. Should this be necessary, you will be contacted in order to obtain your informed written consent.
Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
Special Education program placement and related services are determined by the IEP Team based on assessment results and appropriate goals and objectives.
The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) requires that the school, in conjunction with the parents and other professionals, develop an IEP for each student with a disability. The IEP will describe the level at which your child is performing and will identify specific services (e.g. remedial work, tutoring, special education classes) or instruction your child will receive to address his or her specific needs. The IEP and related special education programs are provided at no cost to families. Each year, the IEP is revised based on the child's progress.