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See OSPI’s COVID-19 guidance and resources for educators, students, and families.
Guidance for Families: Special Education in Washington State
Contact Information
The OSPIs Special Education team aspires to ensure students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). About 14 percent of students overall receive special education services in the state of Washington.
These pages are dedicated to providing students and families with information about special education, to ensuring that students and families know about their rights, and answering questions they may have about how the process works.
Webinar Q&A: Supporting Families Across All Learning Models
February 24, 2021 | 6:30pm
OSPI’s special education team is hosting an hour-long webinar/Q&A to answer questions and to support families of students with disabilities. The OSPI special education team will be available to answer questions and problem solve with families supporting students with disabilities across all learning models: In-person, hybrid and remote.
- Supporting Families Across All Learning Models Webinar Flyer-English
- Supporting Families Across All Learning Models Webinar Flyer - Arabic
- Supporting Families Across All Learning Models Webinar Flyer - Chinese (Simplified)
- Supporting Families Across All Learning Models Webinar Flyer - Russian
- Supporting Families Across All Learning Models Webinar Flyer - Spanish
Register in advance for this webinar! After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Overview
For an overview of special education and to learn more about how the different components of special education fit together to provide your student with an education, start here:
- What Is Special Education?
- How Special Education Works
- Laws and Procedures
- Parent and Student Rights (Procedural Safeguards)
Topics
- Making a Referral for Special Education
- Eligibility for Special Education
- Prior Written Notice
- Evaluations
- Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
- Placement Decisions and the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
- Transition (Ages 16-21)
- Behavior and Discipline
- Disagreements and Disputes related to Special Education
- Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC)
- Need Assistance?