The Santa Clarita Valley Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) is requesting that families of children in need of special education in Santa Clarita contact them for assistance.

Santa Clarita’s SELPA is currently seeking to provide residents with special needs from birth to age 22 with special education resources.

“The Santa Clarita Valley SELPA and its member districts are responsible for identifying, locating and evaluating any children with known or suspected disabilities to determine whether a need for special education and related services exist,” said Tracy Peton-Perry, director of Santa Clarita Valley SELPA. “All referrals are considered confidential and services, for eligible children, are provided at no cost.”

SELPA provides guidance to help land students in the right place so they can achieve their goals, representatives said.

Services given by SELPA include community outreach, staff training, providing information and family support, determining funding and coordinating agencies, according to a previous story.

See Related: Special Needs Students Provided Services By Santa Clarita SELPA

Parents can refuse services if they choose.

Special education programs are available to all eligible students with disabilities in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Even children who are enrolled in private schools are eligible for aid from SELPA, according to officials.

However, families must reside within local school district boundaries in the Santa Clarita Valley to be eligible for services from Santa Clarita SELPA.

The districts the organization serves are the Castaic Union School District, the Newhall School District, the Saugus Union School District, the Sulphur Springs Union School District and the William S. Hart Union High School District.

Parents concerned about their children’s development or who have reason to believe their children need special education due to a physical, mental, emotional, learning or speech problem are encouraged to contact the Santa Clarita SELPA office or their local school district’s Special Education Department.

For more information about Santa Clarita SELPA, click here.

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