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Volume 20

December 2023

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're talking about a 504 plan. Keep reading to learn more and hear about upcoming events and SELPA highlights.

Visit the SELPA website

504 Plan

A 504 plan is a formalized plan developed to provide accommodations and support for students with disabilities who require assistance to access and participate in the general education setting. The name "504" refers to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. While both Section 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) aim to support students with disabilities, the key differences lie in the eligibility criteria, focus of services, the formality of the process, and the level of detail in the plan. IEPs provide more comprehensive and specialized support, while Section 504 plans focus on ensuring equal access through reasonable accommodations.

Key features of a 504 plan include:

Eligibility: To qualify for a 504 plan, a student must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and other functions.
Equal Access: The primary goal of a 504 plan is to provide equal access to education. This may involve accommodations and modifications that help level the playing field for students with disabilities. Examples of accommodations might include extended time on tests, preferential seating, or the provision of assistive technology.
Evaluation: While not as comprehensive as an IEP evaluation, a 504 plan typically involves an assessment of the student's needs and the identification of appropriate accommodations. The process is less formal than the IEP process and often involves input from teachers, parents, and other relevant school staff.

Students who have an IEP are also entitled to protections under a 504 plan. For example, a child may need accommodations to access before/after school extracurricular activities or a childcare program. Students with a 504 Plan are not entitled to an IEP, unless the IEP team identifies that they require specialized services from a special education provider.

Learn more about a 504 plan in this article from Understood.

SELPA Highlights

Equity Design and Disproportionality (ED&D) Team

The Equity Design and Disproportionality team was back in the studio with Dr. Matthew Tessier, Assistant Superintendent of Innovation at the San Diego County Office of Education. In the podcast Dr. Tessier discusses how the Innovation Lab is creating long-term opportunity and access for all students through innovation and technology. Students are able to go to the Innovation Lab and learn about technology through hands on activities.

Listen to the podcast on Spotify.

Image of participants and staff on zoom meeting

Fall Parent IEP Academy

Our Alternative Dispute Resolution team has been actively involved in educating parents and families through the Parent IEP Academy. Empowering parents to understand the special education process and encouraging their active participation in creating programs for their children is crucial for the overall success of the education system. Our next series starts in January. Registration is still open. To register click here: English or Spanish

Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting

At our last CAC meeting, we had an opportunity to introduce our Local Plan and are excited to hear the feedback from parents. The Local Plan for a SELPA outlines policies and procedures describing how it will provide special education services, monitor compliance, and allocate resources to support students. We discussed Alternative Dispute Resolution and how to request assistance. It was nice to meet new families and have great discussions. If you were unable to attend and would like to receive the PowerPoint for this workshop, please email scselpaadr@sdcoe.net.

We would love to see you at our next Community Advisory Committee meeting Jan. 11 at 10 a.m.

Image of meeting with participants and SELPA staff

Local Resources

Miracle League

The Miracle League of San Diego provides children and adults with special needs the opportunity to play baseball in an organized league. Registration for the Spring Season is now open for players, buddy players and coaches. To learn more about the program, visit the Miracle League website.

South Bay Community Services

SBCS (formerly South Bay Community Services) transforms communities to support the well-being and prosperity of children, youth and families throughout San Diego County.

To learn about their services visit their website.

Upcoming Events

TASK Live Webinar

TASK is an organization with a mission to educate and empower people with disabilities and their families. View the calendar of events on its website.

Jan. 10 — Alternative Dispute Resolution Lunch Chat

Bring your questions to our team and join us virtually from 12 to 12:30 p.m. using the Zoom meeting ID: 851 2590 6937

Jan. 11 — Community Advisory Committee (Secondary Transition)

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.

Jan. 17 to Feb. 21 — Parent IEP Academy Winter 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 5 to 6 p.m.

Spanish Registration / English Registration

Feb. 1 — Community Advisory Committee Meeting: Managing Behaviors in the Home

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.

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.