PARENTS

Parents/Guardians

The Division of Special Education supports families of students with disabilities by offering tools, resources, and opportunities to actively participate in their child’s education. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of workshops, training sessions, and community events offered throughout the year, all designed to help support students both in and out of the classroom. We value and are committed to our partnership with parents in every step of their child’s educational journey.

Featured Guides

Foundational documents to help families understand the special education process.


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Important Parent Resources

Essential information to help families navigate the special education process.

Understanding the Process

Child Find Overview

IEP Written Translation Request

Parents have the right to receive a written translation of their child’s IEP (Individualized Education Program).

How to Request a Translation:

If you want a translated copy of the IEP, let the IEP team know during the meeting.
If you didn’t request it during the meeting, you can still ask later — just submit the request in writing to your child’s school administrator.

Timeline: The school must provide the written translated IEP within 30 days of your request.

Pupil Records Request

The California Education Code § 56504 ensures parents the right and opportunity to examine all school records of his or her child and to receive copies of these records within five business days after making a request either orally or in writing. The Los Angeles Unified School District-Division of Special Education has established a Custodian of Records to receive requests for records and to ensure these records are copied and provided to the individual making the request.

How to Submit Your Request: All educationally related records requests for students with or suspected of having a disability attending a District Operated School or Charter Operated School are to be mailed, emailed, or faxed.

Mail to:

Division of Special Education - Custodian of Records
333 S. Beaudry Avenue, 18th floor

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Email to:

[email protected]

Subject Line: Pupil Records Request, COR

Fax to: (213) 241-2417, Attn: Division of Special Education - Custodian of Records

Records Request: English | Spanish

Records Request - Fillable: English | Spanish

IEP Access via Parent Portal

Families can now view their child’s current IEP and Quarterly Service Tracking through the LAUSD Parent Portal.

How to Access Your Child’s IEP:

Visit the Parent and Community Services webpage for directions on how to register and log in. Resources are available in English and Spanish, including quick guides, FAQs, presentations, and videos.
Once logged in, click the “Special Education Services” icon.
Select the “Individualized Education Program (IEP)” link.
Your child’s current IEP will be displayed in your preferred language.

For assistance, contact your school site or the Los Angeles Unified Family Hotline at (213)443-1300.

Get Involved

Community Advisory Committee (CAC)

Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for special education is a District-level group made up of parents, guardians, educators, other school staff, students with disabilities and community members who collaborate to improve special education services. Most members are parents or guardians of children with disabilities. The CAC serves in an advisory role to the SELPA director, the Board of Education, and the Superintendent’s cabinet. Get involved! Consider joining the CAC and attending a regional election to learn more.

Note: Prospective candidates must meet eligibility criteria, which include one of the following: they must provide evidence that they live, work, or have a child enrolled in a school covered by the LAUSD SELPA Local Plan. This will be based on the category they are interested in.

CAC Elections Information

Coming Soon

Special Education Committee Interest Form

LAUSD Board Member Karla Griego invites you to apply to be on the Special Education Committee to help elevate the concerns and voices of underrepresented communities.

Flyer: English

Special Education Region Ambassador

Inspiring authentic engagement and leveraging the power of our families, communities, and educational partners. The Los Angeles Unified Special Education Region Ambassadors will be valuable advocates and guides who inform their school communities about District services and resources.

Flyer: English and Spanish

Virtual Parent Workshops

The Division of Special Education is pleased to offer a series of Virtual Parent Workshops for the 2025–2026 school year.

These workshops are designed to help families better understand the special education process and explore strategies that support student success. Topics will include an introduction to special education, ways to promote inclusive practices that foster student connectedness, the role of executive functioning in learning and development, how to access both district and community resources, and how to build essential skills to support student mental health.

We look forward to partnering with you throughout your special education journey.

Parent Workshop Library

Preparing for the IEP Meeting

Student-Led IEPs

Empowering Families: Intro to Special Education

Empowering Parents: Understanding Media & Technology

Visual Guide to the IEP Document

TK-12 Instruction, Parent/Guardian Resources

Exploring IEP Resolution Options

Dispute Resolution

Dispute Resolution Options

Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) is an optional informal process adapted by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and supported by the California Department of Education (CDE) for resolving special education concerns early. The ADR process uses communication, collaboration, and consultation to resolve Individualized Education Program (IEP) disagreements. It is through the ADR process that LAUSD seeks to expedite resolutions to special education concerns after an IEP meeting, in a manner that meets the needs of the student at the earliest opportunity possible.

Flyer: English | Spanish

Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR)

Informal Dispute Resolution or “IDR” is an optional dispute resolution process available to parents. IDR is a District process that is designed to be faster, less formal and less adversarial than mediation and due process proceedings. In the IDR process, parents identify their issues and concerns and the District attempts to work with the parent to quickly resolve the issues identified.

Mediation Only

“Mediation Only” is a state-level, voluntary dispute resolution process under the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). In Mediation Only, a neutral mediator assists you and the District in discussing and attempting to resolve your disagreement. The mediators are not employees of the District and do not have any personal interest in the disagreement. The mediators are selected on an impartial basis by the State and know the laws and regulations relating to the provision of special education and related services. The Mediation Only process includes a mediation conference attended by you, the assigned mediator, and a District representative who has decision-making authority. Lawyers or advocates, for the student/ parent or for the District, are not permitted to participate in Mediation Only.

Due Process Hearing

Due process hearing requests are dispute resolution proceedings required to be available to parents and school districts under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). You or the District may file a due process complaint on any matter relating to a proposal or refusal to initiate or change the identification, evaluation or educational placement of your child or the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to your child. The proceedings begin with the submission of a complaint notice and include a resolution period with a mandatory resolution session meeting, optional mediation, and a due process hearing before an impartial hearing officer. The District convenes the resolution session meeting. The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) conducts the optional mediation and the due process hearing. It may not be necessary to go through all of the due process proceedings to reach resolution. A due process complaint may be resolved by mutual agreement of the parties at any stage of the proceedings.

Learning and Well-Being Resources

High School Diploma for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities Parent Guide

Students with significant cognitive disabilities have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma that is standards-based and aligned to the state requirements through the alternate assessment exemption. Following completion of these requirements, students continue to receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) up to the age of 22 or until the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team determines they have completed all LAUSD A-G diploma requirements.

Parent Guide: English | Spanish

English Learners with Disabilities

Roadmap for Social-Emotional Well-Being & Academic Success

The Roadmaps for Social-Emotional Well-Being & Academic Success were developed by educators and mental health professionals to help support the return to school after a particularly challenging time in history. We believe that parents, teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff will all find valuable tools and resources within these guides. The Parent/Caregiver Edition offers practical strategies to help strengthen a child’s resilience by fostering their sense of safety, connectedness, self-efficacy, community efficacy, calm, and hope.

Roadmap: English | Spanish | Chinese | Armenian | Korean

UCLArts & Healing Programs

UCLArts & Healing, a community partner and member of the UCLA Integrative Medicine Collaborative, is supported by the Arts & Healing Initiative. Their mission is to transform lives through creative expression by combining the inherent benefits of the arts with mental health practices that promote self-discovery, connection, and empowerment. Explore their programs, services, and resources—including the HOPE (Healing Online for People Everywhere) series—by visiting their webpage.

Website: https://uclartsandhealing.org/

Brochure: English