Special Education
Important Notifications
Independent Study
Independent study requests should be made to your child's school district of responsibility
AB 104
The parent, guardian, or education rights holder of a pupil or, for a pupil 18 years of age or older, the pupil who was enrolled in high school and enrolled in a course during the 2020-21 school year may apply to Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) to have a letter grade earned for that course, as reflected on the pupil's transcript, changed to a Pass or No Pass grade. You may use this application template developed by the CDE to request a grade change to Pass/No Pass. Some postsecondary educational institutions, including those in other states, may not accept a Pass or No Pass grade instead of a letter grade for admission purposes. This list of postsecondary educational institutions found here have all indicated they will accept Pass/No Pass grades. Students age 18 or older, and parents/guardians, have until 15 calendar days after the posting of this, i.e. until Aug. 13 to fill out the application template and return it to SCOE. We are prohibited by law from accepting applications after that date.
Contact Us
Please call 707-524-2710 to access the SCOE Special Education department.
About Us
This department offers specialized instructional services for children ages 3 to 22 who have physical, emotional, cognitive, or developmental disabilities. The department runs several programs funded by school districts and state/federal grants:
- Countywide early childhood education program
- Daily classroom instruction for the county’s most severely disabled school-age students
- Transition Program to help students, age 18-22, meet the challenges of the adult world
Special Education department personnel also support students at district schools who have hearing and/or vision impairments. The Non-Public Schools Program runs and funds educational services for special education students placed in licensed children’s institutions by governmental agencies.
Programs
About 280 specially trained staff members serve about 80 school and community sites in Sonoma County with the following services:
- Special day classes
- Adaptive Physical Education
- Speech and language therapy
- Occupational and physical therapy
- Support for visually impaired and deaf/hard of hearing students
- Orientation and mobility training
- Vocational training
- Counseling
- Positive behavioral support
- Assessments.
A high-quality education
Each student receives an education that is:
- High-quality
- In the least-restrictive environment
- Standards-based
- Preparation for a successful transition to the highest possible level of independence.
COVID-19 Safety Plan
View SCOE Special Education's Approved COVID-19 Safety Plan.
