The Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) is dedicated to providing special education and related services to more than 6,500 students. The mission of the SCUSD Special Education Department is to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to graduate with the greatest number of post-secondary options out of the widest range of options, by providing appropriate, high-quality, evidence-based supports and services in the least restrictive learning environment. An education specialist is an accredited special education teacher who is authorized to perform educational evaluations related to access and progress within the core curriculum and to provide educational support to students with disabilities in their area of expertise. Special education teachers collaborate with families that raise babies (26% toddlers with disabilities) in their homes and work with a team that supports young children with disabilities in preschool and kindergarten programs.
The foundation of the program is based on social justice and equity in education for all children and young people, including those with disabilities and their families. The Special Education Department of the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) provides special education-related services to all 13 school districts in Sacramento County for students from birth to 22 years of age. The program also collaborates with the Quality Child Care Collaborative (QCCC), a group of community agencies and educational and government institutions that provide training and resources to child care providers in the Sacramento area for students with special needs. AmeriCorps members are participants who spend a year of service with a program that meets the needs of the local community in exchange for a modest living grant and an education award. One of my favorite memories of my career as a special education teacher is when a third-grade student led her own Individual Education Plan or IEP meeting. The ECSE program is a distance learning program with courses offered in an online format for students who live more than 30 miles from campus and in a hybrid format for local students. Special education teachers are powerful agents of change in the lives of children and young people with disabilities. In conclusion, SCUSD's Special Education Department is committed to providing quality services to all students, regardless of their disability or background.
The SCOE's Special Education Department works closely with local agencies and institutions to ensure that all children have access to the resources they need. Finally, AmeriCorps members provide invaluable service to the community while gaining valuable experience. Special education teachers are essential agents of change in the lives of children and young people with disabilities.
