Special Education

Instruction and services may be provided within the general education classroom during any part of the student’s day.

Our Learning Center Model is a designated classroom or set of classrooms where students receive small group instruction in a separate location from the general education classroom.  Special education and general education students are provided specialized academic instruction with specific and research-based programs for intense remediation of basic skills.  Students may also be provided supportive services depending on student need.  Our schedule emphasis is on flexibility so that students spend only part of their school day in the Learning Center and the remainder of their day in the general education setting.  Learning Centers will look differently at each school site, depending upon the unique needs of students.  Students may be clustered by assessed instructional need.  Instruction is provided by trained and skilled teachers and Instructional Assistants.  

A self-contained Special Day Class, on a comprehensive school campus, is a program placement that provides intensive instruction and services to students when the nature or severity of the disability precludes their participation in the general education program for most of the school day.  Students may work on the same grade-level curriculum as their general education peers and/or researched-based curriculum for more intensive remediation.  The district currently offers Special Day Classes for students in preschool through eighth grade.  

In compliance with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act, students with disabilities may be eligible for additional accommodations or modifications while enrolled in the general education program. In order to qualify as a student with a disability under Section 504, the student must have an identified disability that affects learning and require accommodations and/or modifications of the general education program in order to access the curriculum. Eligibility for a 504 Accommodation Plan is determined by a school site team. Questions regarding 504 eligibility for a student should be directed to the school site administrator or the District's Special Education Department at 916-770-8860.

The extended year program is provided for students enrolled in special education who require special education and related services in excess of the regular school year. Extended year services are provided for students with disabilities that are likely to continue indefinitely or for a prolonged period of time and students that would experience regression without extended year services. The IEP team makes the determination that extended year services are needed.

For more information, please contact our Special Education Department at 916-770-8860.

Home hospital instruction is provided to students who are unable to attend school because of health reasons. In order to be eligible for home hospital instruction the student’s physician must provide the school district with a letter stating that the student requires home hospital instruction. The student is eligible for home hospital services if he/she is going to be out of school for 10 school days or more.

For more information, please contact our Special Education Department at 916-770-8860. 

A non-public school option may be available based on student need and upon the recommendation of the IEP team.  

Related services are those supplemental services that are necessary for a child to benefit from his/her educational program.  In considering the unique needs of the individual student, the IEP team may determine there is a need for related services.  Examples of these services include, but are not limited to, speech and language services, transportation, individual or group counseling, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and adapted physical education.

Placer County Office of Education provides Special Day Classes for students with moderate to severe disabilities.  Additional itinerant services provided through PCOE include, but are not limited to, Orientation and Mobility, specialized vision services, services for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and services for students who are orthopedically impaired.

Placer Infant Program provides specialized supports and services to children with special needs prior to three years of age.  To refer a child to the Placer Infant Development Program please call (916) 277-8796.

Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District provides a continuum of special education and related services to preschool students between the ages of three and five years old who are identified as having special needs.  The district provides speech and language services through the Preschool Intervention Program (PIP).  The district also offers Special Day Classes for preschool students with more intensive educational needs.

Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District is part of the Placer County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA).  One of the supports that Placer County SELPA provides to parents and school districts is the services of a program specialist.  The SELPA program specialist provides coordination, consultation and is a resource for assistance with program development to school districts.  The program specialist is a resource for both teachers and parents.  Kristi Gregersen is the SELPA Program Specialist for Dry Creek and can be reached at (530) 886-5872.