Special Education

The Santa Maria-Bonita School District Special Education Department is a unique blend of professionals dedicated to supporting students with special needs.  

Once a referral is made, a team of special education professionals, in collaboration with parent/guardians(s), assess and determine a students' unique needs through a variety of considerations to create an Individual Education Program (IEP).

An IEP is a legal document that describes how the Santa Maria School District provides services to a student with exceptional needs. Special Ed support and services are provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004).

The district proactively works through child find to ensure students with special needs are assessed and if qualified for services, provided with an Individual Education Program (IEP) with services and supports to ensure their personal growth in alignment with provide a freed and appropriate public education (FAPE).

Please contact your school of residence or the special education office for more information.  

The Santa Maria Bonita School district supports inclusive education as an educational philosophy.  Inclusive education addresses equity by a model where students with disabilities are (in most cases) educated at their neighborhood school or in a school with a continuum of supports and services. Decades of research support inclusive education for student success.  

Inclusive Education for Parents - Video (English) 

Inclusive Education for Parents - Video (Espanol) 

Parent FAQ

Research

The Santa Maria-Bonita School District offers a within district continuum of supports and services for students including:

General Education
Related Services 
Resource Specialist Program (RSP)
Special Day Classes - Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe (SDC) 

RELATED SERVICES 
 
Related services services include speech and language therapy, adapted physical education, low incidence services, therapeutic services counseling, and other specific types of instruction required for the pupil to benefit educationally from his or her instructional program. Students receive services at school during the regular school day.  Services are provided through a Special Education evaluation process to determine eligibility for supports and services. 

RESOURCE SPECIALIST PROGRAM (RSP)
 
Students in the Resource Specialist Program are in general education classrooms with the support of special education instruction and/or consultation services from a Special Education Resource Specialist.  Services target specific goals and may be taught through both direct instruction and collaborative models.  

SPECIAL DAY CLASS (SDC)
 
Special Day Classes (SDC) support students who need more intensive individualized and small group instruction for a significant portion of the school day.  Special day classes are located at various schools throughout the district, which may differ from a student's school of residence.  

PARENTALLY PLACED PRIVATE SCHOOL SERVICES 

The Parentally Placed Private School Services (PPPSS) program is a Special Education service for students enrolled in private schools. According to federal and state law, the Santa Maria-Bonita School District will assist private schools in child-find activities, accept referrals for students in private school settings, and conduct appropriate assessments for students suspected of having a disability.

At the Santa Maria-Bonita School District we want to create a strong partnership with families to ensure a connection between the home and school. 

We know that research suggests student success depends on family and community involvement in their education.  Every child benefits from a strong partnership between home, community and school. District staff need and want your partnership in your student's education.

One way to support this partnership is providing resources from the district and county.    

                                                      RESOURCES

SUPPORT SERVICES              SMBSD

                                                    Parent Resources 

EARLY LEARNING                 Turning 3 (English) (Spanish)

                                                Transition to Kinder (English) (Spanish)

IEP RESOURCES                     SELPA Parent Handbook (English) (Spanish)

                                                Asking Questions at an IEP (English) (Spanish)

COMMUNITY AGENCIES      North County Agencies 

ADAPTIVE SKILLS

COMMUNICATION/ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING 

MOTOR

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Virtual Wellness 

* Social/emotional learning School Psychology Site

* Social/emotional learning Taylor site

TRANSITION

SIRAS

Digital Handbook