Our Mission

The Division of Special Education’s School and Family Support Services (SFSS) unit is committed to working collaboratively with our LAUSD families, students, colleagues and other partners in education to promote each student’s success and well-being as he/she prepares for future endeavors by providing all partners with the ongoing delivery of the most accurate information, resources, assistance, and guidance regarding special education.

What We Do

If you have questions, concerns, and/or complaints related to special education or specifically about a child’s IEP, we can assist. The Division of Special Education is committed to:

• Providing information to increase understanding and awareness of special education, so parents can better participate in the educational decision-making process for their child
• Promptly responding to inquiries, and helping to mediate and/or resolve concerns related to the Individualized Education Program (IEP)
• Investigating complaints of alleged special education violations, and facilitating appropriate resolutions in a timely manner
• Listening to parent concerns and providing resources that support informed decision-making
• Offering information about parent engagement opportunities
• Facilitating collaboration between District staff and parents
• Providing answers to IEP related questions
• Assisting with transportation needs as stated on the IEP
• Providing the most current information related to special education

Contact Us

School and Family Support Services
Telephone: (213) 241-6701
FAX: (877) 339-2684
Email: spedsfss@lausd.net
Website: https://www.lausd.org/sped
Monday - Friday 7:00 AM-5:00 PM 
Interpreter Services Available

SFSS Brochure February 2021
English,  Spanish,  Armenian,  Chinese,  
Farsi,  Korean,  Russian,  Tagalog 

SFSS Poster February 2021
English,  Spanish,  Armenian,  Chinese,
Farsi,  Korean,  Russian,  Tagalog

The LAUSD Division of Special Education strives to meet the unique educational needs of all exceptional children with each Individualized Education Program (IEP) written; however, disagreements arise occasionally. When disagreements occur, parents have four options to pursue a resolution to the disagreement:

1. Alternate Dispute Resolution
   Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) is an optional informal process adapted by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and supported by the California Department of Education (CDE) for resolving special education concerns early. The ADR process uses communication, collaboration, and consultation to resolve Individualized Education Program (IEP) disagreements. It is through the ADR process that LAUSD seeks to expedite resolutions to special education concerns after an IEP meeting, in a manner that meets the needs of the student at the earliest opportunity possible.
   ADR BROCHURE _ English and Spanish_6.22  
   
   
2. Informal Dispute Resolution
   Informal Dispute Resolution or “IDR” is an optional dispute resolution process available to parents. IDR is a District process that is designed to be faster, less formal and less adversarial than mediation and due process proceedings. In the IDR process, parents identify their issues and concerns and the District attempts to work with the parent to quickly resolve the issues identified.
   
   
3. Mediation Only
   “Mediation Only” is a state-level, voluntary dispute resolution process under the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). In Mediation Only, a neutral mediator assists you and the District in discussing and attempting to resolve your disagreement. The mediators are not employees of the District and do not have any personal interest in the disagreement. The mediators are selected on an impartial basis by the State and know the laws and regulations relating to the provision of special education and related services. The Mediation Only process includes a mediation conference attended by you, the assigned mediator, and a District representative who has decision-making authority. Lawyers or advocates, for the student/ parent or for the District, are not permitted to participate in Mediation Only.
   
   
4. Formal Due Process Hearing
   Due process hearing requests are dispute resolution proceedings required to be available to parents and school districts under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). You or the District may file a due process complaint on any matter relating to a proposal or refusal to initiate or change the identification, evaluation or educational placement of your child or the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to your child. The proceedings begin with the submission of a complaint notice and include a resolution period with a mandatory resolution session meeting, optional mediation, and a due process hearing before an impartial hearing officer. The District convenes the resolution session meeting. The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) conducts the optional mediation and the due process hearing. It may not be necessary to go through all of the due process proceedings to reach resolution. A due process complaint may be resolved by mutual agreement of the parties at any stage of the proceedings.

Parent request for a written translation of their child’s IEP.

Parents can make a request for a written translation of the IEP document at the IEP meeting. If the parent has not requested the written translation at the IEP Team Meeting, yet after the meeting decides to request the translation of the IEP document, the parent must make the request in writing to the school site administrator.

School of attendance shall provide a written translated copy of the IEP to the requesting parent within 30 days of the request.

The California Education Code § 56504 ensures parents the right and opportunity to examine all school records of his or her child and to receive copies of these records within five business days after making a request either orally or in writing. 

The Los Angeles Unified School District-Division of Special Education has established a Custodian of Records to receive requests for records and to ensure these records are copied and provided to the individual making the request. 

Information - How to Submit Your Request

All educationally related records requests for students with or suspected of having a disability attending a District Operated School or Charter Operated School are to be mailed, emailed, or faxed to:

Los Angeles Unified School District 
Division of Special Education  
Custodian of Records 
District-Operated Schools and Charter Operated Schools 
Special Education Service Center-Operations 
333 S. Beaudry Ave., 18th Floor 
Los Angeles, CA 90017 
(213) 241-2417 (fax) 

EMAIL 
sesc-operations@lausd.net 

Subject Line: Pupil Records Request  

Records Request Information 

Parent/Guardian Request for Records (English)   FILLABLE FORM 

Parent/Guardian Request for Records (Spanish) FILLABLE FORM 

Roadmap for Social-Emotional Well-Being & Academic Success

The Roadmaps for Social-Emotional Well-Being & Academic Success were designed by educators and mental health professionals to support the return to school following a particularly turbulent time in history. We trust that all parents and all school staff - teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff- will find helpful tools and resources.

The Parent/Caregiver edition gives parents/caregivers tools to support their child’s resilience: sense of safety, connectedness, self-efficacy, community efficacy, ability to be calm and hope.

English

Spanish 

Armenian

Chinese 

Korean

   "Virtual IEP Team Meeting Informational Video for Parents" (English) 

   "Información Para Padres Sobre la Reunión Virtual del Equipo del IEP" (Español) 

UCLArts & Healing is a community partner. It is an organizational member of the UCLA Integrative Medicine Collaborative, and is supported by the Arts & Healing Initiative. Their mission is to transform lives through creative expression by integrating the innate benefits of the arts with mental health practices for self-discovery, connection, and empowerment. View the UCLArts & Healing programs, services and resources including the HOPE (Healing Online for People Everywhere) series programs, by visiting their webpage. 
 UCLArts & Healing Programs Webpage

 UCLArts & Healing Brochure

Created in 2020 at the start of the pandemic, this free, online series supports the resilience of our global community through social emotional arts.

In accordance with our mission, with this series we aim to enhance the innate social-emotional benefits of the arts with supportive practices, such as non-judgmental language and reflection, for self-discovery, connection, and empowerment.

Visit https://uclartsandhealing.org/services/community-services/hope-series/ for more information and to access the online series. 

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