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Volume 52

August 2026

South County SELPA Insights is a monthly newsletter full of information and resources brought to you by the South County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) team. This month we will highlight the organizations that attended our annual Special Education Resource Fair. Keep reading to find resources and ways we can assist you and your family.

Visit the SELPA website

SELPA Highlights

Parent IEP Academy

As a parent to a child with special needs, you may have some questions regarding your student’s Individualized Education Program, also known as an IEP. Our free four-part workshop series is designed to guide families through each stage of the IEP process, providing practical knowledge and tools to support their child effectively. Please join us for all four sessions to learn more and receive a certificate upon completion.

Summer session dates:

Aug. 12, 26, Sept. 2, 9

Fall session dates:

Oct. 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10

Parents standing together for a group photo at our parent support group meeting

Coffee and Conversations Parent Support Group

Are you a parent of a child with special needs that would like a space to connect with other parents? Would you benefit from a listening ear or sharing advice with other parents who can relate to you? Our free and confidential parent support group may be helpful for you. New parents and caregivers are always welcome and encouraged to join us. English and Spanish meeting options are available.

Our upcoming meetings in September will be located at the Molina Healthcare Chula Vista One Stop Help Center at 689 Palomar St., Chula Vista, CA 91911 from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Upcoming Meetings

English

Sept. 8

Nov. 17

Jan. 19

March 16

Spanish

Sept. 10

Nov. 19

Jan. 21

March 18

Students of our new SELPA Academy working together at an outside table to take care of plants.

Students of our new SELPA Academy playing on the playground together.

New South County SELPA Academy

We’re thrilled to announce the opening of our new South County SELPA Academy in Bonita. The academy is a specialized school for TK-6 students whose needs can’t be fully met in a traditional setting. We provide individualized instruction, therapeutic support, and a nurturing environment where students build confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop skills for success in school and in life. Check out this story about the new program to learn more about the South County SELPA Academy and hear from Principal Evan Henry.

SELPA staff speaking with parents at resource fair

South County SELPA Special Education Resource Fair

Our 2026 Special Education Resource Fair was a wonderful success! We were grateful to welcome 52 organizations that shared valuable resources, services, and support with our families. More than 150 attendees had the opportunity to connect with agencies and learn about resources available in our community.

In case you missed the event — or would like to reconnect with an organization — you can find the full list if participating agencies on our website. We hope these resources continue to support you and your family throughout the year!

Miracle League San Diego

The Miracle League of San Diego (MLSD) provides children and adults with special needs the opportunity to play baseball in an organized league.

Fall 2026 season registration is now open! The season will begin in September and includes events at three different locations. Please see the information below for location and date information. If you are interested in registering as a player or volunteering, please visit the Miracle League website to learn more and sign up for the upcoming fall season.

Bell Middle School will host Opening Day on Sept. 12 with a full schedule of games.
Padres Park will host Opening Day on Sept. 19 with a full schedule of games.
The Competitive Division at Padres Park begins on Sept. 20.

Be sure to follow Miracle League of San Diego on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with their latest postings.

What is the Community Advisory Committee (CAC)?

The CAC is a team of parents and other individuals with a personal or professional interest in securing appropriate services for students with special needs. Any parent, educator, or community member is welcome to attend meetings. Spanish translation is available.

To join the CAC or access more information, see the CAC webpage.

Follow the @southcountyselpacac on Instagram for news and updates.

Upcoming CAC Meetings

Oct. 28

Time: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Location: South County Regional Education Center at 800 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950

Jan. 27

Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Location: Virtual via Zoom

April 21

Time: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Location: South County Regional Education Center at 800 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950

May 26

Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Strengthening Partnerships Webinar Series by Seeds of Partnership and CDE:

The California Department of Education (CDE), Special Education Division, in partnership with the Seeds of Partnership project, invites you to join this engaging webinar series. Whether you're a parent seeking to learn more about special education, related supports, and how to deepen your partnership with educators, or an educator looking for strategies to engage and support families, this webinar series offers a unique opportunity for collective learning. Each session will include a variety of topics, such as strategies for effective communication, ways to strengthen family-school relationships, insight into systems, programs, supports, best practices and approaches.

Who should attend? Parents, educators, administrators, leaders, and parent center staff – all of whom support students with disabilities. Please see below for upcoming webinar dates and registration information. Sessions are held the 4th Thursday of the month throughout the year (excluding November and December) from 11 a.m. to noon.

Sept. 24 Registration

Oct. 22 Registration

Jan. 28 Registration

Upcoming Events

Aug. 12 to Sept. 9 — South County SELPA Parent IEP Academy Summer Session

Time: Noon to 1 p.m.

Location: Virtual

Are you a parent that would like to understand their student's IEP (Individualized Education Program) paperwork better, or you would like to know how you can participate more in IEP meetings? This free 4-part workshop series is designed to guide families through each stage of the IEP process, providing practical knowledge and tools to support their child effectively. Please join us for all four sessions including Aug. 12, 26, and Sept. 2 and 9 to learn more and receive a certificate upon completion.

Sept. 8 — Coffee and Conversations Parent Support Group (English)

Time: 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Location: Molina Healthcare Chula Vista One Stop Help Center at 689 Palomar St., Chula Vista, CA 91911

Are you a parent of a child with special needs that would like a space to connect with other parents? Would you benefit from a listening ear or sharing advice with other parents who can relate to you? Our free and confidential parent support group may be helpful for you. New parents and caregivers are always welcome and encouraged to join us for a conversation and cup of coffee. This is the English meeting option, see Sept. 10 for the Spanish meeting information.

Sept. 10 — Coffee and Conversations Parent Support Group (Spanish)

Time: 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Location: Molina Healthcare Chula Vista One Stop Help Center at 689 Palomar St., Chula Vista, CA 91911

Are you a parent of a child with special needs that would like a space to connect with other parents? Would you benefit from a listening ear or sharing advice with other parents who can relate to you? Our free and confidential parent support group may be helpful for you. New parents and caregivers are always welcome and encouraged to join us for a conversation and cup of coffee. This is the Spanish meeting option, see Sept. 8 for the English meeting information.

Sept. 26 — San Diego Regional Center's (SDRC) 4th Annual SDRC Resource Fair

Time: 9 a.m.

Location: San Diego Convention Center, Hall B at 111 West Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101

Join SDRC for a welcoming and inclusive event that brings together the individuals they serve, their families, service providers, community partners, and SDRC staff. At this resource fair you can learn about and explore vendors, services, and attend eight breakout sessions. The first 800 cars (non-exhibitors only) will receive free parking, and the first 800 individuals attending will receive free lunch!

If you have any questions or comments on the SELPA Insights newsletter, please contact our team at scselpaadr@sdcoe.net.

Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at South County SELPA.