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Special Education Resources

Links to sites related to Special Education national and state laws, regulations.

National Web Sites

Related to Federal Constitution, Legislation, Laws, Regulations, and Court Decisions

California Web Sites

Related to the Constitution, Laws, Regulations and Legislation

Legislative Information

Special Education Resource Links for Families and Professionals

Note: The California Department of Education does not control the contents of Web site links provided. How current, comprehensive, and relevant the data are on outside sites is the responsibility of that Web site's administrator. If you have concerns, questions, or requests, contact the Web administrator of the site visited.

  • Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) External link opens in new window or tab.
    Mission is to support California's educational leaders, ensure all students have the essential skills and knowledge needed to excel and champion public education.
  • Association of University Centers on Disabilities External link opens in new window or tab. (formerly the American Association of University Affiliated Programs for Persons with Developmental Disabilities)
    Promotes and supports the national network of university centers on disabilities, which also includes Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Programs and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (DDRC).
  • California Association of Resource Specialists and Special Education Teachers (CARS+) External link opens in new window or tab.
    An educational association dedicated to the support of all special educators.
  • California Association of School Psychologists (CASP) External link opens in new window or tab.
    Mission is to secure and sustain programs that support the profession of school psychology, provide educational and professional needs of school psychologists, advance public awareness about the contributions of school psychologists, and enable individual school psychologists to function effectively in the schools and communities in which they serve.
  • California Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA) External link opens in new window or tab.
    A professional organization of speech-language pathologists and audiologists advancing services to children and adults with communication and related disorders.
  • California State Library External link opens in new window or tab.
    The State Library stands as one of California's great public research institutions with a five-fold mission: serving the needs of elected officials and state agency employees; preserving the state's cultural heritage by collecting historic materials on California and the West; assisting public libraries through financial aid and consulting services; offering special services to disadvantaged and handicapped clients; and, ensuring that the general public has convenient and consistent access to its resources.
  • Center for Special Education Finance (CSEF) External link opens in new window or tab.
    Addresses fiscal policy questions related to the delivery and support of special education services throughout the United States. CSEF will conduct the first comprehensive, nationally representative study of special education spending to be undertaken in more than a decade.
  • Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation External link opens in new window or tab.
    Provides digests of relevant educational research for parents and practitioners on strategies for teaching students with a range of special needs.
  • Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) External link opens in new window or tab.
    The largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.
  • California Early Start External link opens in new window or tab.
    The California Department of Developmental Services plans, develops, implements, and monitors the statewide early intervention services system in collaboration with the California Department of Education.
  • Disability Benefits 101 External link opens in new window or tab.
    The World Disability Institute, the Department of Rehabilitation and a number of other organizations have put together an excellent resource for persons with disabilities and agencies that advocate for persons with disabilities about all the in's and out's of benefits available to them.
  • Learning Disabilities Association of California External link opens in new window or tab.
    A 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization of parents, professionals, and adults with learning disabilities. Its purpose is to promote and support the education and general welfare of children and adults of potentially normal intelligence who manifest learning, perceptual, and/or behavioral disabilities.
  • National Center to Improve Practice in Special Education (NCIP) External link opens in new window or tab.
    Seeks to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities by promoting the effective use of assistive and instructional technologies among educators and related personnel serving these students. In order to accomplish this goal, NCIP is creating a national community of educators--technology coordinators, staff developers, teachers, specialists, clinicians, administrators, university faculty, advocates and consumers--who play a leading role in promoting and implementing assistive and instructional technologies for students with disabilities at a local, regional or national level.
  • National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth External link opens in new window or tab.
    Funded by the US Department of Labor to assist the workforce development community in addressing issues affecting the employment of people with disabilities. The site contains useful information and resources for youth with disabilities and their families, service providers and other front line workers, administrators, policy makers, and employers.
  • Regional Offices on Developmental Disabilities External link opens in new window or tab.
    The Regional Offices of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities compile information to assist individuals with developmental disabilities, families, providers, advocates, and others to remain informed on issues affecting persons with developmental disabilities, both at the state and national levels. The goal of this Web site is to provide access and timely information about the Regional Offices on Developmental Disabilities and related issues.
  • United States Department of Labor, Disability Resources External link opens in new window or tab.
    One-stop source of disability-related information and programs available across the government relevant to people with disabilities and their families.
Questions:   Special Education Division | specedinfoshare@cde.ca.gov | 916-445-4613
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Recently Posted in Special Education
  • ACSE Agenda October 16, 2024 (added 04-Oct-2024)
    Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting agenda.
  • WAI Executive Meeting October 15, 2024 (added 03-Oct-2024)
    WorkAbility I (WAI) State Advisory Executive Committee Meeting Agenda.
  • Cyclical Monitoring for Small LEAs (updated 24-Sep-2024)
    This is the home page for local educational agencies (LEAs) that have been selected for Special Education Cyclical Monitoring.
  • ACSE Membership and Liaisons (updated 17-Sep-2024)
    Directory of the Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE), including Commissioner, liaison and staff contact information.
  • FMTA Consultant Assignments by Region (updated 12-Sep-2024)
    The Focused Monitoring and Technical Assistance (FMTA) Consultants are assigned geographically and by quality assurance activity to align with the eleven California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) regions.

  • CALPADS Special Education Data Fall Roadshows (updated 29-Aug-2024)
    California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) Regional trainings in Fall 2024 to inform local educational agencies (LEAs) with updates and changes to the collection of data for students with disabilities.
  • DRDP Administration FAQs (added 29-Aug-2024)
    These frequently asked questions (FAQs) assist local educational agencies (LEAs) in the administration of the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP).
  • 2024 Significantly Disproportionate LEAs (added 28-Aug-2024)
    A list of the local educational agencies (LEAs) identified as significantly disproportionate for the 2024 fiscal year.
  • California Special Education Local Plan Areas (updated 09-Aug-2024)
    Service area covered by a special education local plan and the governance structure created under any of the planning options of Section 56205, 56206, 56208, 56211, 56213, 56241, 56243, 56244, & 56245 of the Education Code.
  • 2024−25 Workability I Grant Update (added 08-Aug-2024)
    Updates for the 2024-25 Workability I Grant Program.