Dear Parents, Guardians, and Sweetwater Community Members,

The Department of Special Services provides special education and related services to approximately 5000 students with disabilities in the Sweetwater Union High School District.  Specialized academic instruction and related services are provided in a variety of environments to meet the unique and individualized needs of each student with disabilities in the least restrictive environment.  School site teams including site administrators, school psychologists, general and special education teachers, speech pathologists and instructional assistants work collaboratively with parents/guardians and students to develop individualized education plans (IEP) and individualized transition plans (ITP) to ensure each student is prepared to succeed in college, career and/or their community.

Special Services is a department within the Equity, Culture and Student Services Division of our district.  Effective first instruction that leads to student engagement and mastery through the lens of equity and culture is our district-wide focus for all students during the 2018-19 school year.  Effective first instruction for students with disabilities occurs across all environments within a comprehensive school site beginning with general education; some students with disabilities require additional supports and services outside of the general education environment.  IEP teams through the IEP process, determine the specialized academic instruction and related services as well as the appropriate educational environment that are required to support effective first instruction for students with disabilities.

During the 2018-19 school year, the Special Services department will be inviting multiple stakeholders including parents/guardians and students, to create belief statements and a vision for students with disabilities in the Sweetwater Union High School District.  In addition, a 5 year action plan will be developed in alignment with the vision to improve outcomes for our students with disabilities.  If you would like to participate as a stakeholder in creating our belief statements, vision and action plan, please contact me.

Best regards,

Carrie Rea
Director, Special Services
carrie.rea@sweetwaterschools.org