A Continuum of Services
Program and Service Options
If your child is eligible to receive special education services, you have the right to be informed about all available public and non-public schools or programs. The law requires that to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities be educated with children without disabilities. This placement is sometimes called “the least restrictive environment” ("LRE").
Each student may require a different program or combination of programs, and when appropriate, a student’s curriculum can be modified. The goal is to build programs around a student’s needs rather than trying to fit the student into the programs.
Lynwood Unified School District makes available a range of educational programs for students with special needs. The IEP team determines placement and services of each student based on the principle of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). LRE means that a student is to participate in as much of the general education program as is appropriate in view of his/her educational needs. In other words, the District will remove children from the general classroom only when the nature or severity of the child's disability is such that the child's education in general education classes with supplementary aids and services cannot be satisfactorily achieved.
The following are program options:
Preschool Program
Preschool-age children (3-5 until eligible for Kindergarten) with special needs may be served in several ways:
- Designated instruction and services
- Head Start or Lynwood USD Preschool with designated instruction and services
- Specialized Academic Instruction (SDC)
General Education Class Program
A student with special needs may be placed in a general education classroom program when the IEP team determines that his/her educational needs can be met in that setting with the use of supplementary aids and services. In addition, whenever possible, they will attend the school they would ordinarily attend if they were not in special education.
General Education Classes with Consultation
In order for students with disabilities to be appropriately educated in general education classes it may be necessary for their teacher to consult with special education personnel to receive guidance and support.
General Education Classes with Related Services
Related services assist students with disabilities to benefit from their education program. Some examples of Related Services: Speech and Language Services, Adapted Physical Education, Counseling, Physical and Occupational Therapy.
General Education Classes and Resource Specialist Program (RSP)
A resource specialist program (RSP) provides instruction and services to students with disabilities assigned to the general education classroom from the majority of the school day. The goal of the resource specialist program is to enable students with disabilities to succeed in the general education environment. The program provides assistance in a variety of ways depending on the needs of a particular student. For example the resource specialist teacher may work with the student individually in a separate room or collaborate with the student’s teacher to help the student. RSP many times will be a push in or pull out model.
General Education Classes and Special Day Classes (SDC)
Depending on their needs, students with disabilities may be educated in general education classes for part of the school day and Special Day Classes for the other part of the school day.
Special Day Classes (SDC)
Special Day classes serve students who, because of their disabilities, cannot participate in general education classes for a majority of the school day. These classes are provided in general education sites. As appropriate, students enrolled in special day classes interact with their general education peers through academic, non-academic and extracurricular activities.
Non-Public Schools
When no appropriate public education program is available, a student with disabilities may be placed in a certified non-public school under contract with the District.
Home or Hospital
Students with a verified medical or emotional condition which prevents them from attending school may receive services on a temporary basis in the home or hospital.
State Residential School
State residential schools provide comprehensive assessment and services for students with visual and/or hearing disabilities.
Related Services
Support services are provided when they are required to assist a student with special needs to benefit educationally from his/her special education program.
Support services may include:
- Speech and Language
- Audiological services
- Psychological services
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Adapted physical education
- Counseling services
- Orientation and mobility services
- Specialized vision services
- Specialized deaf and hard-of-hearing services
- Health and nursing – specialized physical healthcare services
- Assistive technology services
- Braille transcription