Audit your Special Education program in 20 minutes.

Does the district maintain identification (incidence) rates within the typical California range (10–13% of total enrollment) for students with IEPs?

Is there a documented, multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) functioning before referral to special education?

Are timelines for evaluation and IEP development tracked and met for at least 95% of cases over the last 12 months?

Are eligibility decisions reviewed for consistency across school sites by a designated special education leader?

Is there a process to monitor disproportionality by race/ethnicity or English-learner status in identification?

Are special education teacher caseloads aligned with state-recommended caseload guidelines and bargaining-unit agreements?

Are speech-language pathologist caseloads at or below 55 students (state-recommended maximum)?

Are paraprofessional FTEs allocated based on documented IEP needs rather than legacy site allocations?

Has the district avoided chronic special education vacancies that exceed 90 days in the last 12 months?

Is there a documented process for periodic caseload review and reallocation as enrollment shifts?

Does the district meet or exceed the federal LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) target of ≥80% of students inside the regular classroom for ≥80% of the school day?

Are related services (speech, OT, PT, counseling) delivered by district staff rather than NPA contracts wherever feasible?

Is there a documented inclusion model and training program for general-education teachers?

Are extended school year (ESY) eligibility decisions documented and consistently applied?

Is every active NPS placement reviewed at least annually for continued necessity and academic progress?

Are NPS / NPA contracts renewed with a documented cost analysis and rate negotiation process?

Has total NPS spending grown by less than 10% year over year for the last two fiscal years?

Is there a documented program to bring NPS-placed students back to district programs when appropriate?

Does the district file all required CALPADS-SPED reports complete and on time over the last 24 months?

Has the district avoided substantiated state compliance complaints in the last 24 months?

Is the SELPA local plan reviewed and signed off by the district board annually?

Are all prior-year compliance findings either resolved or in active corrective action with documented evidence?