Special education in PAUSD

Palo Alto Unified serves students with disabilities from age 3 until their 22nd birthday. Services range from a few minutes a week of speech therapy to specialized classes and a transition program for young adults. The district states the core principle on its special education process page: special education students in PAUSD are first and foremost general education students.

This page summarizes what the district publishes, with links to the official guidance. It is general information, not legal advice. Federal and state law set the rules and each student's IEP team makes the actual decisions. For the overall shape of the district, see our public schools guide.

Who qualifies for special education

Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a student may qualify in one of 13 categories. PAUSD lists them as autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment (including ADHD), specific learning disability (including dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia), speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury and visual impairment.

Having a diagnosis is not the same as qualifying. The IEP team asks three questions: does the student meet the criteria for a disability, does it have an adverse effect on educational performance and does the student need special education and related services? The district notes that a medical diagnosis and an educational evaluation are different things. Schools usually run their own assessments, though they may use some outside testing. A student cannot be found eligible if the needs come mainly from things like limited English, poor attendance or a lack of instruction in reading or math.

The process, step by step

1. Student Study Team. PAUSD encourages a general education meeting first, called an SST, to look at strengths and concerns and try other supports.
2. Referral. A parent or the school can refer a student for assessment at any time. A referral can be written or verbal. The district posts a sample letter for requesting an evaluation.
3. Assessment plan within 15 days. The school must respond within 15 days with an assessment plan listing the areas to be tested or a prior written notice explaining why it is declining.
4. Consent within 15 days. Parents have 15 days from receiving the plan to sign it.
5. Assessment and IEP meeting within 60 days. From the day the signed plan arrives, the school has 60 days to complete testing and hold an IEP meeting to review results.
6. The IEP. If the student is eligible, the team writes an Individualized Education Program with goals, services and accommodations. Parents are asked for written approval and placement does not change without a parent's signature.
7. Reviews. The IEP is reviewed at least once a year. A full reevaluation happens every three years. Either a parent or the school can call a meeting at any time.

Parents may also revoke consent for special education at any time. The district then returns the student to general education without the rights that come with an IEP.

Who is on the IEP team

The team includes the parents or guardians, a school administrator, a special education teacher, a general education teacher and other staff the team needs. Families can bring someone to take notes. The district's FAQ suggests gathering records and evaluations and writing down questions ahead of time.

Section 504 plans

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a civil rights law. It covers students with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. A 504 plan provides accommodations and supports so the student can access school. The district's FAQ points out that a student found not eligible for special education may still qualify for a 504 plan.

PAUSD's comparison of Section 504, ADA and IDEA is a useful one-page summary. Some differences it lists:

Questions about 504 plans, or requests for a review, go to the Office of Student Services through the district's 504 page. Each school also has a 504 lead.

Programs and services

The district stresses that every service is individualized and decided by the IEP team. Services it lists include specialized academic instruction, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral support, counseling, assistive technology, adapted physical education, vision services, deaf and hard of hearing services, health and nursing services and transportation.

Elementary sites

At the district's February 2026 kindergarten information night, staff said every student with an IEP is enrolled in a general education TK or kindergarten classroom. Not every site has the full range of services. The presentation listed Barron Park, El Carmelo, Fairmeadow, Nixon and Walter Hays as schools with both mild to moderate and extensive support needs teachers, an orthopedic impairment program at Juana Briones and a therapeutic support program at Duveneck. Greendell School runs special education preschool. Our elementary schools guide has addresses.

Secondary and transition programs

• Bridges is an alternative high school program for students with IEPs who benefit from a smaller setting, with A to G aligned courses, a clinical therapist and the Paly and Gunn bell schedules.
• IGNITE is the transition program. It builds work and independent living skills through workshops, vocational training at the VA hospital and paid work experience, with support from the state WorkAbility I program and the Department of Rehabilitation.
• Postsecondary program for young adults 18 to 22 focuses on community-based instruction, travel training, money management and job skills.
• Therapeutic Support programs use a trauma-informed approach for students with emotional and behavioral needs.

The SELPA and county support

Every California district belongs to a Special Education Local Plan Area. PAUSD is part of the Santa Clara North West SELPA, which works with the Santa Clara County Office of Education. Its home page says it serves 21 local education agencies and well over 16,000 students with disabilities in northwest Santa Clara County. Its members include nearby districts such as the Los Altos School District, Mountain View Whisman and the Mountain View Los Altos high school district.

The SELPA publishes the Local Plan and a procedural handbook covering assessment, IEPs, discipline and parent rights. It also runs a telephone help line and offers alternative dispute resolution.

When you disagree

PAUSD's alternative dispute resolution page lays out the options, from least to most formal:

• The SELPA telephone help line for information on procedures and safeguards.
• SELPA case management support meetings with families and staff.
• Facilitated IEP meetings with a neutral facilitator.
• Mediation only through the state Office of Administrative Hearings.
• A due process hearing before an administrative law judge.
• A state complaint to the California Department of Education.

If parents disagree with a school evaluation, they have the right to request an independent educational evaluation at no cost. The district posts a sample letter for that too. The state's procedural safeguards notice explains each right in detail.

Parent resources and getting involved

The Special Education District Advisory Committee, or SEDAC, brings together parents, staff and two trustees. It meets at least once a quarter, gives advice to district leadership and submits an annual report to the board. Parents join through an application process. Its next listed meeting is November 5, 2026 at the district office. See our school board guide for how the board works.

The district's parent resources page lists outside organizations, including:

• San Andreas Regional Center, which serves people with developmental disabilities in Santa Clara County.
• Parents Helping Parents in San Jose, with workshops and a resource library.
• SCCOE Inclusion Collaborative Warmline, free individual support in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
• Support for Families of Children with Disabilities in San Francisco.
• The California Department of Education Special Education Division.

The district also posts a Special Education Parent Handbook in English and Spanish. For medical care and therapy outside school, our guides to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and disability services list local options.

Frequently asked questions