NUSD Special Education Mission Statement

The mission of the Department is to identify and provide appropriate education to students with disabilities, in the least restrictive environment, to enable each student to reach their academic potential while acquiring life skills for the 21^st century.

What is Special Education?

As defined by California Education Code (section 56031), special education is:

Specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of individuals with exceptional needs, whose educational needs cannot be met with modification of the general instruction program; and Related Services that help individuals with special needs to benefit from specially designed instruction. Special Education is an integral part of the total public education system. Other features of Special Education are:

Services are provided in a way that promotes maximum interaction between students with and without disabilities in a manner which is appropriate to the needs of both;
Services are provided at no cost to parents;
Services include a full range of program options to meet the educational and service requirements of individuals with exceptional needs in the least restrictive environment (LRE). The LRE is generally the setting that is most similar to those attended by general education students.

SPED Events

Public Hearing Notice

Public Hearing Notice

The SELPA office will be holding its annual public meeting on May [...]

full range of program options

About NUSD Special Education

Your questions and points of contact regarding the education for your child.

Who is eligible for special education services?

Special Education is specialized instruction provided for children from birth to age 22 who qualify according to the laws and regulations outlined by the state and federal government. A student may qualify for special education services as an individual with special needs in one of thirteen areas identified by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004).

These areas are as follows:

Autism
Deaf-blindness
Deafness
Hearing impairment (hard of hearing)
Intellectual disability
Multiple disabilities
Orthopedic impairment
Other health impairment
Several emotional disturbance
Specific learning disability
Speech or language impairment
Traumatic brain injury
Visual impairment

Novato Unified School District is part of the Marin County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), a collaborative of 19 school districts and public agencies in Marin. Through the District and SELPA, we offer a continuum of services for students with disabilities.

The department’s leadership team provides focus and direction for special education and related services. They also monitor the effectiveness and compliance of programs and services for students.

NUSD Special Education Links and Resources

District Special Education Parent Information Night – Agendas & Minutes

A forum for addressing the needs of all students with disabilities

Special Education Contact List

How to contact NUSD Special Education

Services

Description of services offered

Events and Resources

Current opportunities and resources

The Special Education Fundamentals of IDEA

The Edge Newsletter explains “IDEA”, “child find” and what is a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) and the least restrictive environment (LRE)

Standardized Testing Accommodations

An overview of student accessibility resources by subject and type of assessment

Marin County Alternative Dispute Resolution

Information on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Spanish and English

What is SELPA?

See Marin County’s description of Special Education Local Plan Areas

SELPA Annual Meeting Notice

When is the next SELPA Annual Meeting?

Marin County SELPA SEAC

What is the purpose of the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) and when does it meet?

NUSD Special Education Contact Information

Dawn Mawhinney – [email protected]
Director of Special Education

Andrea Gibney – [email protected]
Administrative Assistant

Andrew Weiher – [email protected]
Behavioral Health Specialist

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