Private School Services

Public school districts are responsible for identifying and evaluating children suspected of having disabilities, including students enrolled by their parents in private schools.

Within Tuolumne County SELPA:

• The district where the private school is located is responsible for Child Find activities to help identify students who may have disabilities.
• The student’s district of residence is responsible for conducting special education evaluations under the SELPA’s established procedures.
• If a student is found eligible for special education, the district of residence offers a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) through an Individualized Education Program (IEP), which may be implemented if the student enrolls in the public school district.

Parents who have concerns about their child’s learning, development, or educational needs may contact their district of residence to request a special education evaluation.

Students whose parents choose to enroll them in private schools do not have an individual entitlement to the same special education and related services available through a public school IEP.

Instead, federal IDEA requirements provide for equitable services, supported through a proportionate share of federal special education funding. The type and amount of services are determined through a process of timely and meaningful consultation with private school representatives and representatives of parents of parentally placed private school students with disabilities.

Eligible students selected to receive equitable services have those services documented in an Individual Services Plan (ISP).

Following the May 5, 2026, meaningful consultation meeting, Tuolumne County SELPA established an indirect consultation model to support eligible students enrolled in private schools.

Services may include:

• Specialized Academic Instruction Consultation: Education specialist consultation with private school personnel to support students’ identified instructional needs.
• School Psychologist Consultation: Consultation with private school personnel to address identified social-emotional and behavioral needs when the student’s IEP identifies counseling as a related service.
• Professional Development: Training and technical assistance for private school personnel to support students with disabilities.

Consultation services are provided to private school personnel rather than directly to students. The established model allows for up to 10 hours of consultation per eligible student per school year, subject to available IDEA proportionate-share funding. Specific services are determined individually and documented in an ISP, as applicable.

Parents interested in requesting a special education evaluation should contact their school district of residence.

For additional information regarding parentally placed private school students, equitable services, or the annual consultation process, please contact:

Tuolumne County SELPA
175 Fairview Lane
Sonora, CA 95370
Phone: 209-536-2054
Email: swheat@tcsos.us