What's Happening in the SELPA

  • The districts within the Foothill SELPA would like to work with you to resolve all complaints at the local level whenever possible.  For more information, click here.
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  • Welcome to the Foothill SELPA.  Our SELPA consists of three school districts:  Burbank, Glendale and La Canada USD.

     

    You may be wondering...What is a Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)?

    In 1977, all school districts and county school offices were required to join to form geographical regions of sufficient size and scope to provide for all the special education service needs of children residing within the region boundaries.

    Today, there are approximately 130 SELPAs in the State, ranging in size from those serving fewer than 1,000 students to those serving more than 10,000 students with the most common size between 2,000 and 4,000 students. The SELPA governance structures vary in form.  The Foothill SELPA is a multi-district SELPA.

     

    Each SELPA must have an Administrative Unit (the Responsible Local Agency)--the legal entity that receives funds and is responsible for seeing that every eligible child receives appropriate services. The Administrative Unit for the Foothill SELPA is Glendale USD.  Each region determines the funds available and the responsibilities of the SELPA office.

     

    The Foothill SELPA Designated SELPA Administrator position is assigned to one of the three school district Special Education Directors on a two-year rotation.  The Foothill SELPA Manager is a permanent position, working in tandem with the Designated SELPA Administrator.  Responsibilities of the SELPA include such things as:

     

    • Ensuring program availability for all children with disabilities
    • Curriculum/Program Development support
    • Surrogate Parent training
    • Community Advisory Committee (CAC) support
    • Management Information System (MIS)
    • Transition planning
    • Legal assistance
    • Personnel Development
    • Budget planning and review
    • Evaluation
    • Interagency coordination
    • Program coordination
    • Fiscal management
    • Program Specialists
    • Community awareness

     

    The SELPA policy-making body is designated in the Local Plan and makes policy decisions, approves the SELPA budget and contracts and establishes guidelines for other decisions, such as distribution of personnel units, staff development programs and staffing patterns. In the Foothill SELPA, the governance body is the Foothill SELPA Superintendents' Council.