The Santa Clara County Office of
Education (SCCOE) conducted a
study of the continuum of services for
students with disabilities within Santa
Clara County with a view to improving equity and access. This
year-long process sought input from a
variety of partners using metrics
from the California Special Education
Management Information System
(CASEMIS) data, California Longitudinal
Pupil Achievement Data System
(CALPADS), California Dashboard data,
survey data, and qualitative information
from interviews and focus groups.
The study had four components:
- Establish a countywide Task Force
consisting of a variety of partners
to analyze the data, research, and fiscal
impact on best practices in inclusion.
- Use quantitative and qualitative
research methods to assess the
current landscape of services for
students with disabilities from birth
to age 22 in Santa Clara County.
- Identify high-quality inclusion programs
in the county and state that can act as
models for schools and districts.
- Identify research-based best practices
that can assist districts and programs
to increase their capacity to use
inclusive practices.
The study was informed by the SCCOE
Special Education Task Force which
consisted of partners representing
districts, charter schools, parents,
students, community organizations, and
agencies. The Task Force assisted in the
development of the survey
and met to review the data on the least
restrictive environment for students
with disabilities, discussed the California
Dashboard data, reviewed the survey
and focus group results, and developed
a vision for students with disabilities
throughout Santa Clara County.
