1. Switching SELPAs: When Should My Charter School Consider This?

2. Session Agenda Introduction: Overview of Special Education Options Gina Plate, CCSA Joining a SELPA: Considerations, Processes and Timelines Catherine Conrado, Ed. D., Sonoma County Charter SELPA Unanswered Questions: Benefits, Barriers and Risks Greg Moser, Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP Case Study: Connections Academy Franci Sassin, Connections Education

3. What is a SELPA? Under California’s Master Plan for Special Education, each school district (and charter school) must belong to a Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) A SELPA is the service area covered by the local plan for providing special education services to individuals with disabilities in that area under the state and federal law A SELPA may be made up of one large school district or a combination of school districts and county offices of education Each SELPA looks different, but what they have in common is: – A local plan that determines how the members will provide services and how decisions will be made at the SELPA level – An allocation plan that determines how the SELPA will distribute funds to each member 3

4. Statewide Special Education Structures Schools Interacts with students and families Supports service delivery for students at site May be required to contributes financially to district costs *Local Education Agency (LEA)* Participates in SELPA governance Carries responsibility for special education Receives special education funds from the SELPA Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) Multiple LEAs (or one large LEA) collectively develop a plan for special education Receives special education funds from CDE and allocates funds to participating LEAs

5. Statewide Special Education Structures School District Charter School SELP A Multi-District SELPA Single District SELPA Traditional School

6. School of the District Ed. Code §47641(b) Local Educational Agency for Special Education Ed. Code §47641(a) TWO OPTIONS EXIST for special education service delivery and responsibility: By default, charter schools are SCHOOLS OF THE DISTRICT for special education purposes Two Options for Charter Schools

7. Understanding the Options LEA for Special Education School of The District School District Charter School SELP A Traditional School

8. In 2007, the SBE approved a pilot program allowing for 22 charter schools to participate in 4 out-of-geographic region pilot SELPAs: El Dorado, Yuba County, Lodi Area Special Education Region, and Desert Mountain. In 2010, the SBE removed the pilot status and voted to allow all charter schools to apply to participate in out-of-geographic SELPA SELPAs may now establish statewide or regional charter-only SELPAs – El Dorado County Charter SELPA – Los Angeles County Charter SELPA – Sonoma County Charter SELPA The dialogue between charter schools and their authorizers and regional SELPAs has also begun to change, resulting in increased local options for charter schools. Recent Changes and Developments

9. What is a Charter SELPA? School District Charter School SELP A Charter SELPA Multi-District SELPA

10. Comparing the Options “School of the District”LEA for Special Education GOVERNANCE The default arrangement The District, not the charter school, is the member of the SELPA and participates in the governance of the SELPA. The charter school must be accepted as a member of a SELPA. The charter school participates in the governance and decision-making of the SELPA and represents the interests of its students RESPONSIBILITY & SERVICES The charter school must enroll special education students in the same manner that it enrolls other students. The District must ensure that all charter students receive FAPE The charter school must enroll special education students in the same manner that it enrolls other students. The charter school must ensure that all of its students with disabilities receive FAPE. In order to do so, a charter school must be able to provide a full “continuum of services” for its students. SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING The District receives funding from the SELPA on behalf of the charter school, and must provide special education services to charter school students in the same manner as provided to students of traditional public schools of that District. The charter school is required to contribute a portion of its general block grant funding to support District special education costs. The charter school receives special education funds and/or services in accordance with the SELPA plan.

11. Why become an LEA? Improved Quality of Services: Selection and assignment of staff Selection of strategies and programs Alignment with your unique charter school philosophy Financial Considerations: Direct access to revenue Ability to determine how funds are spent No “fair share” contribution – excess costs are determined by your spending patterns, not that of the District

12. Deciding Which Option is Right for You Flexibility and Autonomy – Is it important that your school have flexibility over service delivery? Access to Quality Services – As a school of the district, are you confident in the quality of special education provided by the district? – As an LEA, would your school have the expertise and infrastructure to offer a full continuum of program options? Access to Sufficient Funding – As a school of the district, how much special education funding are you contributing to your authorizer? – As an LEA, are the revenues available through the SELPA sufficient to provide a full continuum of quality special education services? Legal/Fiscal Liability – As a school of the district, to what extent is your school currently responsible for special education service and litigation expenses? – As an LEA, to what extent would the SELPA assist your school in resolving legal disputes? Is your school prepared to manage this risk