Supports and Services

The Early Start program is a public special education program that offers services to infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. Services are available to children from birth to 3 years old who are showing significant delay in at least one area of development or have a condition with a known probability of causing a disability or delay. If you have concerns about your infant or toddler's development, you may make a referral by calling: 800-281-8252.​​

As part of California Early Start, the East County SELPA  provides quality early intervention services through the program at no cost to families through three East County school districts for children from birth to three.

Cajon Valley Union School District provides services for families residing within the school district boundaries of Alpine, Dehesa, Cajon Valley, Jamul-Dulzura, and Mountain Empire.

La Mesa-Spring Valley School District provides services for families residing within its school district boundaries as well as the Lemon Grove School District boundaries.

In addition to serving those that reside within their boundaries, Lakeside Union School District also provides services to those residing in the Santee School District.

Once eligibility has been determined, an Individualized Family Service Plan is developed by a team that includes the family and early intervention specialist from an LEA, San Diego Regional Centers for the Developmentally Disabled and other California Early Start agencies.

Parents, physicians, or anyone with a concern about a child's development can make a referral. Please have a discussion with the family before making a referral. Referrals can be made by calling the Exceptional Family Resource Center (EFRC) referral line, and leaving a voice message at 619-594-7416, or on the EFRC website. Referrers can expect a return call within 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)?

​The IFSP is a family-focused, outcome-oriented plan written to address the infant/toddler’s developmental needs and family concerns. 

• What other agencies might I work with if my child receives services through an IFSP?

San Diego Regional Center and Exceptional Family Resource Center are two agencies that work collaboratively with school districts in the provision of services for children from birth to age three.

• Early Start Services are from birth to my child's third birthday. What will happen when my child turns 3?

Planning for transition at age three begins as early as when the child is two years, six months old. More transition information is available in English and Spanish.

Seven Facts About Receiving Special Education Services

Most students with individualized education programs (IEPs) are served within general education classrooms for at least some of their school days. Students with disabilities are getting different needs met in different environments with different services throughout the day.

The student's IEP is based on their unique needs – not on their disability category.  Knowing more about IEPs, IEP meetings, and how to work together with your school team can ensure a student's needs are being met and they are poised for independence and success. 

Tips to Prepare for an IEP Meeting

Share Your Concerns

Every IEP document has a section to record your concerns about your child’s education, and you can draft your list of concerns as well as share them in advance with your child’s case manager. These concerns can be anything you want the IEP team to consider including, academic or functional skills, social-emotional or safety issues, or IEP services or supports.

Communicate

The final but most important tip is to provide the school with the kind of communication you would like to receive. When you are candid about your concerns, the school can invite appropriate school personnel to the meeting. When you ask questions, the school can provide information and data before the meeting. When you and the school team communicate about your child’s needs and skills, the focus of the meeting stays on the student.

Team Members in IEP Meetings

Student Involvement 

Talk to the IEP team about how to include your child’s input, how to have your child attend, and – eventually – how your child can take on some of the leadership of their own IEP meetings. By at least age 16, students should be invited to attend IEP meetings and by age 18, most students will be making decisions about their own IEPs.

Other Meeting Team Members

The IEP team may also include other people with special knowledge of the student or their educational needs such as:

• Professionals who have assessed or provide services to the student
• Staff who are knowledgeable about programs or policies at the school

It is common for some of the school team members to attend only a portion of the IEP team meeting. But this does not apply to the key team members (special education teacher,  the school administrator, and if applicable, the general education teacher).
If you believe that a particular team member needs to be present for the entire meeting, then please talk to your case manager in advance.

Families and Their Invited Participants

Parents or caregivers are vital members of the IEP team. They know their child best and can talk about strengths and needs
Parents or caregivers can also invite a support person to help navigate the process or someone who has knowledge of the student and can benefit the IEP team discussion. 

Waiver Excusal Forms

Sometimes an IEP team member will not be able to attend the meeting because of unexpected circumstances. Using an excusal form, the school should document when team members are not able to participate. Parents or caregivers can choose to excuse the team member or request that the meeting be rescheduled.

Cal-ABLE is a savings and investment plan offered by the state of California to individuals with disabilities, where eligible individuals, family, friends and employers can contribute up to $16,000 a year without affecting the account beneficiary's public disability benefits. Cal-ABLE account owners who work can contribute even more to their accounts. Best of all, earnings on qualified withdrawals from a Cal-ABLE account are federal and California state tax-free.