Supports and Services

The East County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) is composed of 11 local educational agencies (LEA) located in the southeast quarter of San Diego County, going east to the Imperial County line and south to our border with Mexico. The 11 LEAs within the area are:

• Alpine Union
• Barona Indian Charter
• Cajon Valley Union
• Dehesa
• Grossmont Union High
• Jamul-Dulzura Union
• Lakeside Union
• La Mesa-Spring Valley
• Lemon Grove
• Mountain Empire Unified
• Santee

About the LEAs

There are approximately 80,000 students enrolled in the 11 districts, including over 11,000 students in special education programs. Individual district enrollments vary from less than 200 to over 20,000 students, indicating the need for a wide range of educational offerings available to serve students in the suburban and rural areas of the SELPA.

Birth to Age 3:

Services are available to children birth to 3 years old who have significant delays in their development or have a condition with a known probability of causing a disability or delay. These Early Start Infant Program services are provided by the Cajon Valley Union, Lakeside Union, and La Mesa-Spring Valley school districts.

Pre-Kindergarten:

All of the East County districts that provide kindergarten services, also ensure provision of services for prekindergarten students. For more information on services for students between the ages of 3 and 5, who are not yet in kindergarten, see these documents in English and in Spanish. 

Kindergarten to 8th Grade:

The elementary and unified LEAs provide services for students in kindergarten through 8^th grade. 

9^th Grade to Age 22:

Grossmont Union High School and Mountain Empire Unified School district provide services for students in grades 9 through 12, as well as those students who continue to be eligible for services from age 18 through 22.

If you are a parent who suspects your child may have a disability requiring special education or related services in order to receive a benefit from their education, contact your local school district or East County SELPA  for information and assistance. Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and require public schools to provide free appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with disabilities pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Specialists in determining eligibility and educating students with disabilities will assess your child, at no cost to you, and determine whether your child is eligible for special education or related services under the standards of each act. Programs are offered by the public schools throughout San Diego County for children with disabilities between the ages of birth and 21. School districts may not discriminate on the basis of handicap, sex, race, national origin or age against any person who qualifies as a person with a disability.