What is a Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)?

In 1977, all school districts and county offices of education were required to join to form geographical regions of sufficient size and scope to provide for all of the special education service needs of children residing within the region boundaries. Each region developed a local plan describing how it would provide special education services. The SELPA governance structure varies in form. Single district SELPAs are of such significant size to provide all services within their boundaries while smaller districts joined consortia to provide the full range of services.

The Shasta Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) comprises 28 school districts, the Shasta County Office of Education, and three charter schools that are local education agencies for special education purposes. Districts range in size from 5000 students with multiple-school sites to small single-school districts with less than 100 students.

Each SELPA must have an Administrative Unit, the legal entity that receives funds and is responsible for seeing that every eligible child receives appropriate services. The County Office of Education is the Administrative Unit for Shasta County.

SELPA Responsibilities

SELPA responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Budget review and planning
  • Community Advisory Committee support
  • Curriculum and program development
  • Ensuring program availability for all children with disabilities
  • Fiscal Management
  • Interagency coordination
  • Legal Assistance
  • Management Information Systems
  • Program specialists
  • Staff Development
  • Transition Planning

SELPA Services

In addition to ensuring program availability for all children with disabilities, services offered by SELPA include:

  • Assistive Technology
  • Behavior Support Assessments
  • 504 Coordination
  • Program development, coordination and evaluation
  • Parent education
  • Community Advisory Committee (CAC) support
  • Interagency coordination
  • Legal assistance
  • Professional development
  • Special Education Information System
  • Budget planning
  • Surrogate parent training
 
Group photo of children and teacher surrounding a globe

SELPA Main Office - Shasta County
1524 Magnolia Ave. Redding, CA. 96001
phone: 530-225-0100 fax: 530-225-0105

Sharon Hjella
Director

Maddi Card
Administrative Assistant

Cindy Ostrander
Accountant III