SELPA Responsibilities

What are the responsibilities of the SELPA?

The SELPA policy-making body is designated in the Local Plan and makes policy decisions, approves the guidelines for other decisions. In addition, there are usually advisory groups that work with the Director and the governing body. The chief administrator of the SELPA is usually called a Director. It is the SELPA’s responsibility to assure programs are available for all students with disabilities, from birth until age 22. The SELPA must see that programs provide any needed services for any student with an exceptional need, and to assist in inter-SELPA placements, provide technical assistance, and administrative support for the many requirements of the new laws and requirements being placed on districts.

The SELPA responsibility is met through a network of cooperative agreements among districts and agencies. The SELPA Office coordinates this network and provides a focal point for the student/family seeking information and services.

SELPA responsibilities include such things as:

• Ensuring programs/services are available for all children with disabilities
• Curriculum/Program Development
• Support Surrogate Parent Training
• Community Advisory Committee Support
• Management Information Systems
• Transition Planning
• Personnel Development
• Budget Planning and Review Evaluation
• Interagency Coordination
• Program Specialists
• Community Awareness
• Program Coordination
• Evaluation