SDUSD overdue on hundreds of special education requests

SAN DIEGO — At her daughter’s routine test up appointment, Melisa Castro discovered that her 3-year-old daughter Michelle might have autism. 

“I was a little taken aback … I thought it was more of her personality, but I also didn’t have a lot of education on any of it,” mentioned Castro, whose daughter attends Emerson Elementary School within the Southcrest neighborhood east of Logan Heights.

Six months later, Michelle’s pediatrician confirmed the prognosis, and on the physician’s path, Castro requested San Diego Unified to evaluate Michelle for special education. Early evaluation is crucial for youngsters like Michelle, in order that curriculum may be adjusted to suit their wants. 

Yet hundreds of the district’s kids are ready a very long time for the district to evaluate whether or not they want these companies — in truth, many are ready greater than the 60 days allowed by legislation. 

Delays persist as San Diego Unified grapples with a considerable backlog of assessments and extra requests for analysis are submitted. Pandemic isolation could also be a driver of elevated requests for evaluations, district officers say. And further employees is required to fulfill the demand, however attracting and retaining these professionals isn’t any simple activity, the district provides.

San Diego Unified, like different faculty districts and public companies, should establish and consider kids who could have a incapacity as required by state and federal legislation – often known as “child find.” However, mother and father can even submit a request for analysis to their little one’s district, trainer or one other faculty skilled. 

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