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SPECIAL EDUCATION
The Lemoore Union Elementary School District (LUESD) is dedicated to meeting the educational needs of all eligible students with disabilities who reside within the District. Approximately 10% of the students in the district are receiving assistance from a wide variety of Special Education programs and services which are uniquely designed to meet the individual needs of each student.
The information in this page will provide students, parents, school personnel, and other members of the community with a brief overview of Special Education. If you have specific questions, we encourage you to call the Special Services department at (559) 924-6823.
WHAT IS SPECIAL EDUCATION?
In accordance with Federal and California State guidelines, Special Education programs and services are provided to students with disabilities which adversely affect their educational performance. Eligible students are provided a free and appropriate educational program in the least restrictive environment. Services are available to identified individuals from birth through the age of twenty-one, who exhibit one of the following disabling conditions:
Intellectual Disability
Hearing Impairment
Deafness
Speech or Language Impairment
Visual Impairment
Emotional Disturbance
Orthopedic Impairment
Other Health Impairment
Specific Learning Disability
Deaf-Blindness
Multiple Disabilities
Autism
Traumatic Brain Injury
HOW IS MY CHILD REFERRED TO SPECIAL EDUCATION?
If you suspect that your child displays any condition which may require some intervention or Special Education programs and services, a referral can be made in the following manner:
For students enrolled in Lemoore Union Elementary School District, contact the school principal or teacher at your child’s school for a referral to the school’s Student Study Team.
For students enrolled at private schools in grades K-8, please fill out the “child find” form in your school office.
For children between ages birth to five years old contact Kings County SELPA office at (559) 589-2504.
WHAT IS A STUDENT STUDY TEAM?
A Student Study Team (SST) is a school-based, problem-solving group whose purpose is to discuss an individual student's strengths and needs and to determine interventions to best meet those needs. Interventions should be implemented for a period of time and then the team should reconvene to discuss the student's progress.
The SST can include the parent, principal or other administrator, classroom teacher, psychologist, counselor, or special education teacher. Parent concerns and student needs are often successfully addressed through the SST process. If suggested interventions and strategies do not adequately address student needs, the SST and/or parent may request an assessment for Special Education.
HOW WILL MY CHILD BE ASSESSED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION?
Arrangements will be made to have your child’s strengths and needs evaluated. This will be done through assessment and conferences held among those who work with your child. The participants in this assessment process may include teachers, psychologists, nurses, counselors, therapists, and others. No assessment will be conducted without the written permission of the child’s parent or guardian. An Assessment report will be completed and an Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting will be held within sixty (60) days of the date the signed assessment plan is received by the district.
WHAT IS AN ASSESSMENT PLAN?
An assessment plan is developed by the school staff and indicates in which areas the student is to be assessed. The assessment plan will include any areas of suspected disability and will indicate the title of the staff members who will conduct the assessments. The assessment team is typically made up of the school psychologist, special education teacher and school nurse; however, other specialists can be included if additional areas of assessment are appropriate.
WHAT IS AN INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP) MEETING?
After the assessment has been completed, the parent or guardian will be invited to attend an IEP meeting. The date and time of the meeting is mutually set by all participants. The IEP team is made up of the parent or guardian, a school administrator, a teacher and a member who is able to present and explain the results of the assessments. The parent or guardian is free to invite other persons to this meeting, such as a representative from an outside agency or a person who has had experience with IEPs. At the IEP meeting, district staff will discuss the student's present levels of performance as well as the results of the current assessment. Parents are encouraged to ask questions and become fully informed as to their child’s strengths and needs.
After the assessment information is presented and discussed, the members of the IEP team will determine the student’s eligibility for Special Education services in accordance with State and Federal guidelines. If the student is found eligible for Special Education, the team will determine what goals would be appropriate for the student to work on for the year. These goals often include short-term benchmarks and are written in a way that indicates how they will be measured. The team will determine what services and placement would be appropriate to address these goals and if accommodations and modifications to the instructional program are needed to make the student successful.
Special Education services are only provided if the parent signs in agreement, giving consent to the educational program. If at the end of the meeting you as a parent continue to have questions or concerns about the educational program, members of the team will help to clarify the plan.
WHAT IF MY CHILD IS FOUND INELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION?
The district is obligated to follow the guidelines for student eligibility as set out by State and Federal law. Special Education is designed to serve students with significant disabilities which adversely affect their educational performance. If a student is not identified as having a disability or disabilities under the State and Federal guidelines, the IEP team will suggest interventions and strategies that can be utilized to address student needs.
WHAT ARE MY PARENT RIGHTS?
Parents are notified of their rights at various stages throughout the IEP process and at least annually. Parent’s rights include the right to be a participant in an IEP; the right to request an IEP meeting; the right to review assessment information; the right to have their eligible child receive free and appropriate educational services in the least restrictive environment.
A copy of your parent rights can be obtained through the following links:
The Community Advisory Council is a dynamic and collaborative partnership of educators, parents, and community members, and policy makers with the intention of creating positive outcomes for the students of Kings County. The CAC will give families the knowledge and information necessary to become strong advocates for special needs students in Kings County.
CAC 2020-2021 Meeting Calendar
The Lemoore Union Elementary School District works in conjunction with the Kings County SELPA to provide supports and services to our Special Education students. A copy of the Kings County SEPLA plan can be found on the link below.