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Programs & Services

Special Education: Programs & Services

Our Philosophy: The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

In SVUSD, special education is a service, not a place. We are dedicated to providing a full continuum of services that meet the unique needs of every eligible student. By law and philosophy, we ensure that students with disabilities are educated alongside their general education peers to the maximum extent appropriate.

General Education with Accommodations & Support

Many students with learning differences thrive entirely within the regular classroom environment with the right supports in place.

A teacher guides a young student as she writes on a whiteboard.

Accommodations:

These change how a student learns, not what they learn. Examples include preferential seating, extra time on tests, or assistive technology tools.

 

Section 504 Plans:

For students with a documented physical or mental impairment (such as ADHD, severe allergies, or diabetes) that impacts a major life activity but who do not require specialized academic instruction. A 504 plan guarantees legal accommodations within the general education setting.  (For an in depth explaination of the difference between an IEP and a 504 Plan, see Understood.org: The Difference Between IEPs and 504 Plans)

 

Designated Instructional Services (DIS) / Related Services:

Students may remain in general education full-time but receive specialized, pull-out or push-in services from district specialists, including:

💬 Speech and Language Therapy: Focuses on articulation, language comprehension, expression, and social communication skills.

🎨 Occupational Therapy (OT): Supports fine motor skills, sensory processing, and coordination needed for school tasks.

🏃‍♂️ Adapted Physical Education (APE): Modifies PE activities for students with physical or motor delays.

Specialized Academic Instruction (SAI) Models

When a student’s needs go beyond standard classroom accommodations, they may qualify for Specialized Academic Instruction. This support is formalized through an IEP.

What is an IEP?

IEP stands for Individualized Education Program. It is a legally binding, written document developed by a team of school specialists and you (the parent). The IEP outlines your child's current learning strengths, establishes specific, measurable annual learning goals, and details the exact accommodations, modifications, and specialized services the district will provide to help them reach those goals.

 

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Resource Specialist Program (RSP)

The RSP model is designed for students who can participate in the general education classroom for the majority of the school day but require targeted, specialized academic support to meet their IEP goals.

👉 How it works: Support may be provided through a "push-in" model (the specialist works alongside the student inside the regular classroom) or a "pull-out" model (the student goes to the Resource Room for small group instruction in specific areas like reading, writing, or math).

Extensive Support Needs (ESN) Program

The ESN model is designed for students who require more intensive, comprehensive support to access their education and meet their individual IEP goals.

👉 How it works: Students receive highly individualized instruction led by a credentialed Special Education teacher and instructional assistants. This model focuses on building academic, functional, communication, and independence skills within a structured, supportive environment tailored to the student's unique needs.

👉 Inclusion Focus: Inclusion remains a core value at Sonoma Valley Unified. Even within our ESN programs, students are purposefully included in general education environments for electives, lunch, assemblies, recess, and academic subjects whenever beneficial and appropriate for the individual child.

 

 

Specialized Programs & Pathways

Beyond our traditional K-12 campus classrooms, SVUSD offers specialized instructional pathways designed for specific age groups, transitions, or unique student health circumstances.

  • Sonoma Valley Unified School District is pleased to offer early intervention services for preschool-aged children. Once our district team completes the assessment, we will hold an IEP meeting with you to determine the best path forward:

    • Speech and Language Support: If your child qualifies for speech-only services, those therapies are delivered directly by SVUSD specialists at a local campus.

    • Intensive Classroom Needs: If the assessment shows your child needs an intensive, specialized preschool classroom environment, SVUSD will coordinate and arrange for them to attend a regional preschool program operated by our partner, the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE). You can learn more about regional early childhood guidelines via the Sonoma County SELPA Early Childhood Resource Page.

    • Please contact the district’s Speech-Language Pathologist Jessica Clark for an assessment at (707) 935-4226 or email jclark@sonomaschools.org. For other concnerns contact the SVUSD Special Education Department at (707) 933-6004 or email the Special Education Office.

  • For our older youth, planning for a successful launch into independence requires strong coordination between the school district, county office, and state frameworks.

    To support this transition, the programs, local agencies, and digital planning platforms listed here are available to help students explore interests, develop workforce skills, and map out post-secondary paths: 

    • California CareerZone Portal: A proven career exploration and planning system designed especially for students to map interests against 900 distinct occupations.

    • California Career Center & California Career Resource Network: Direct planning platforms packed with career self-management modules and tools to help students map post-secondary paths (including college, military, or apprenticeships). 

    • Petaluma Adult School Site: Provides flexible, high-quality technical education, adult scheduling, and workforce preparedness training to help diverse learners achieve employment goals. Learn about local classes via the 

    • North Bay Regional Center (NBRC): Contracts with local service providers to fund independent living skills and career coaching during and after the public school journey.

    • SCOE Transition Program: Run by the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE), this program teaches functional life skills and entry-level work skills directly to special education students supporting their growth into adulthood.

     Note: The SCOE transition program requires an active referral from your current SVUSD IEP team. Reach out to your case manager to explore this path.

    Illustration depicting a winding path through a town and towards a university, with icons representing career planning and education.

  • Sometimes, a severe medical, physical, or emotional health condition prevents a student from physically attending school. Our Home or Hospital Instruction program ensures that a student's education continues uninterrupted during temporary periods of confinement.

    • How it Works: If a licensed physician verifies in writing that a student must remain home or in a hospital facility for a prolonged period (a minimum of 3 consecutive weeks), the district provides a credentialed teacher to deliver personalized, short-term instruction at home or at an agreed-upon health facility to maintain continuity with their schoolwork.

     

    • For Students with IEPs/504s: If your child has an active IEP or 504 plan, a team meeting will be held promptly to approve the temporary home placement and determine how their specialized services will be delivered during their recovery.