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Volume 22

February 2024

South County SELPA Insights is a monthly newsletter, brought to you by the South County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) team, full of special education information. This month we are covering Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and how you can contribute to their development. Keep reading to find resources and see how the SELPA can assist you and your family.

The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legal document designed to support students with disabilities to be successful in school. The goals are a critical part of an IEP and are essential because they provide a roadmap for the student's educational journey, guiding their learning and ensuring that their needs are appropriately addressed. Here are some ways you can contribute to the development of goals in your child's IEP.

• Collaborate with Professionals: Work collaboratively with educators, therapists, and other professionals involved in your child's education. Share resources, insights, and strategies that have been effective in supporting your child's learning and development.
• Review Draft Goals: Review draft goals before IEP meetings and provide feedback on their clarity, specificity, and relevance. Ensure that goals are aligned with your child's individual needs, strengths, and areas for improvement.
• Request Clarification: If you have questions or concerns about proposed goals, don't hesitate to ask for clarification or additional information. Seek explanations regarding the rationale behind specific goals and how they address your child's unique needs. For some ideas of questions to ask related to your child's IEP goals, check out this article on Understood.org.
• Monitor Progress: Stay informed about your child's progress toward IEP goals. You should receive Progress on Goals at least as often as the school sends home report cards. However, you can request updates more often from educators and therapists and ask for data or evidence to demonstrate your child's growth and achievement.

By being an active participant in the development of IEP goals, parents can ensure that their child's unique needs, abilities, and aspirations are accurately reflected. Collaboration between parents and educational professionals fosters a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes the overall growth and success of students. 

Equity, Disproportionality and Design (ED&D)



The ED&D team presented "Addressing Disproportionate Outcomes: Supporting all Students within an Equitable Setting" at the 2024 California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) Focused on Results Conference.

Winter Parent IEP Academy

Our Alternative Dispute Resolution team has enjoyed getting to know some parents via Zoom. We look forward to wrapping up this series and answering all of your questions. Registration for the spring Parent IEP Academy is open, and we hope to see you there. To register click here: English or Spanish.

The San Diego County Board of Education is searching for the next superintendent to lead the San Diego County Office of Education. Search firm Leadership Associates is seeking additional input from educational partners to build a leadership profile for the next superintendent. Please share your input through an online survey, available in English and Spanish, through Feb. 15.

Your participation in this important process is appreciated and updates on the search will continue to be posted at sdcoe.net/superintendentsearch.

Feb. 16 — Summer Activities and Resources

Presented by San Diego Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego, San Diego Regional Center, Poway Unified School District, and The City of San Diego Parks and Recreation.

The presentation will share information of summer activities and resources provided by various agencies and programs. Event will be in person at the Community Room, Poway Unified District Office, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA 92128 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. To register for the event, click here.

Feb. 21 — NFAR Parent Group

How to Support Young People in Developing Emotional Regulation

Register for this virtual training here. Training will be 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.

For more information visit their NFAR website.

Feb. 22 — South County SELPA Local Plan Review Presentation

Join SELPA staff for an informational meeting about the Local Plan. Presentation will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Click here for Zoom link.

March 2 — Annual San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering

Snapdragon Stadium will host dozens of new and returning hands-on learning experiences, interactive activities, and experiments for children of all ages. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit their website.

March 7 — Community Advisory Committee parent training: Mental Health

Join the Community Advisory Committee at the South County Regional Education Center (800 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950) from 10 to 11 a.m. Free parking is available on the top floor of the parking structure.

March 12 — Alternative Dispute Resolution Chat

Bring your special education questions to our team and drop in virtually from 12 to 12:30 p.m. using the Zoom meeting ID: 851 2590 6937

April 1 — Autism Acceptance Night

The Padres, in community partnership with Autism Society San Diego, invite you to join us for Autism Acceptance Night. For more information visit the Padres site.

April 4 — Community Advisory Committee parent training: Preschool to kindergarten transition

Join the CAC at the South County Regional Education Center (800 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950) from 10 to 11 a.m. Free parking is available on the top floor of the parking structure.

April 9 to May 7 — Parent IEP Academy Spring Series

Interested in increasing your understanding of the individualized education program (IEP) process? Do you want to feel confident that you have the necessary tools to fully participate in your child’s IEP? Register now for the Parent IEP Academy, which will meet Thursdays on Zoom from 9 to 10 a.m.

Spanish Registration / English Registration

April 15 — High School Transition Fair

All high school staff, students and families are welcome. Explore options and supports for after high school. Event will be at Lincoln High School 4777 Imperial Ave San Diego, CA 92113 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Information: 619-725-7610

April 27 — Involved Exceptional Parents (IEP) Day

The theme this year is Beyond Caregiving — Parents as Change-Makers. Save the date from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and watch here for more information as it is released.

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.