Special education in California
What California calls special education, how long each step takes, who to call, free help, paying for services, and how the state scores.
Special education in California
Special education is called
Special Education
The IEPIndividualized Education Program: a written plan for a child's special education services at school. meeting
IEP team meeting
Eligibility team
IEP team
Evaluation timeline
60 calendar days. 60 days from consent to the IEP meeting, not counting school vacations over 5 school days (Ed. Code 56344). If consent comes within 30 days of the end of the school year, the IEP is due within 30 days of the next school year
IEP timeline
Within the same 60 days (evaluation and IEP combined)
Transition planning starts
16
Rights transfer to the student at
18
Developmental delay category
None (state does not report developmental delay; uses established medical disability for ages 3 to 5)
Dyslexia law
yes: Ed. Code 53008 (SB 114, 2023): universal K-2 screening for risk of reading difficulties incl. dyslexia, from 2025-26
State categories
Established medical disability (ages 3 to 5); no developmental delay category
Find your district and schools
2,099 districts and charter districts. 348 special education schools and 1,272 public charter schools.
The state office and your options when you disagree
State special education office
Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)
Mediation
State complaint
Due process
Free help for families
Parent centers
- CARES (California Hands and Voices)
Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), San Diego
(858) 432-3238 - Chinese Parents Association for the Disabled
Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), San Gabriel
Serves: Los Angeles County; Orange County
(626) 307-3837 - Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Berkeley
Serves: Alameda County; Contra Costa County; Amador County; Alpine County; Butte County; Calaveras County; Colusa County; Del Norte County; El Dorado County; Glenn County; Humboldt County; Lake County; Lassen County; Mendocino County; Modoc County; Nevada County; Placer County; Plumas County; Sacramento County; San Joaquin County; Shasta County; Sierra County; Siskiyou County; Stanislaus County; Sutter County; Tehama County; Trinity County; Tuolumne County; Yolo County; Yuba County
(510) 644-2555 - Exceptional Parents Unlimited
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Fresno
Serves: Fresno County; Inyo County; Kern County; Kings County; Madera County; Mariposa County; Merced County; Mono County; San Luis Obispo County; Santa Barbara County; Tulare County; Ventura County
(559) 229-2000 - Fiesta Educativa
Parent Center (type not stated on CPIR list), Los Angeles
(323) 221-6696 - MATRIX Parent Network and Resource Center
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), San Rafael
Serves: Marin County; Napa County; Solano County; Sonoma County
(415) 884-3535 - Parents Helping Parents
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), San Jose
Serves: Monterey County; San Benito County; San Mateo County; Santa Clara County; Santa Cruz County
(408) 727-5775 - ParentsCAN
Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), Napa
Serves: Napa County
(707) 253-7444 - Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), San Francisco
(415) 920-5040 - TASK
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Alhambra
Serves: Los Angeles County; Imperial County; Orange County; Riverside County; San Bernardino County; San Diego County
(626) 300-1043
Disability rights agency
- Disability Rights California
Protection and Advocacy Agency, Sacramento
(916) 504-5800
Paying for it
Medicaid for children
Medi-Cal
CHIP
Medi-Cal (CHIP is part of Medi-Cal); Medi-Cal Access Program (MCAP) for pregnancy
Apply
Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income
yes (KFF 2026: state plan option or comparable waiver); program not named in sources checked
Schools bill Medicaid for health services
yes
Autism insurance law
yes. no age or dollar cap listed
Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities
none
How California scores
First edition. These grades are new (November 2026) and the weights may still change. Texas graduation data is being confirmed with the state.
State of Schools
C-Rank 37 of 51
State of Support
BRank 11 of 51
Combined
C+Rank 20 of 51
| Pillar | Grade |
|---|---|
| Following the law | D |
| Learning together | D |
| Results | C |
| School funding | B- |
| Family protections | C |
| Options and transition | C |
IDEA determination 2026: Needs Assistance (2 or more years). How we grade.
Sources for this page are listed in the K12 Atlas research tables (state terms, state help, paying for it). Items marked "being checked" are waiting on a primary source.
Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.