Referral Process, Preschool through Transition

Referrals to SCOE special education classrooms may be submitted by districts as described below.

Preschool

Referrals to SCOE’s Special Education Preschool come from a variety of sources. Parent and physician referrals should be submitted through the family’s “district of residence.” When a family contacts their neighborhood school, the district will begin the process of determining if the child has any suspected areas of disability. Often this includes an evaluation by the district speech therapist. If a child does not show speech delays but behavior is a concern, the district psychologist may determine whether to refer the child.

Form: Preschool Referral Form (pdf)

  1. District completes the two-page Preschool Referral Form and compiles necessary attachments. Referral packet is sent to the SCOE Preschool Office, 8511 Liman Way, Rohnert Park, CA 94928.
  2. Referral packet is date-stamped upon receipt and the intake timeline begins.
  3. SCOE personnel review the packet and determine whether further evaluation is needed.
  4. An intake case manager is assigned. The case manager calls the parent to schedule an intake evaluation. Classroom visits are arranged following the intake evaluation.
  5. SCOE schedules an IEP and invites the district representative to attend.
  6. SCOE staff provide the Present Levels and develop proposed Goals and Objectives for the IEP team to consider. The IEP team determines eligibility and placement.

Kindergarten to High School

Form: Kindergarten to High School Referral Form

  1. District sends referral packet to regional psychologist (see list below for appropriate psychologist). Packet includes referral form, current IEP, and psycho-educational report, as well as any other relevant information – e.g., speech and language, adaptive PE, behavior reports, etc. See note below regarding ED referrals.
  2. SCOE personnel review the referral packet.
  3. Once the packet is complete, the SCOE psychologist arranges classroom visit(s) with the family and district.
  4. A student requiring a triennial IEP within six months of the referral must have the triennial prior to placement.
  5. If the placement is agreed upon, an IEP meeting is scheduled between SCOE, the referring district, and the student/family.
  6. Parents are asked to complete forms from the SCOE parent packet. An immunization record is required for placement.

Note on ED Referrals: ED referrals to SCOE programs are made following a presentation to the Interagency Consultation Committee (ICC) and must be submitted using the ED Referral Form (pdf) developed by the Sonoma County SELPA. After an ICC consultation, the district contacts the SCOE school psychologist if SCOE is a potential placement option. (An ICC consultation is not required for a 30-day administrative placement from another SELPA or transition from a more restrictive setting.)

Transition Program (18-22)

Form: Transition Program Referral Form (pdf)

  1. District sends referral packet to regional psychologist (see list below). Referral packet must include the SCOE Transition Program Referral Form, current IEP, psycho-educational report, social security card, California ID, work history, and any other relevant information – e.g., speech and language, adaptive PE, behavior reports, etc. Referrals must be made through the student’s district of residence. Non-Public School (NPS) or residential placements must contact the student’s district of residence to refer. See note below regarding Summer and Fall placements.
  2. SCOE personnel review the referral packet.
  3. All potential students and their families are encouraged visit at least one Transition Program site. The visitations are meant to educate students, families, and referring district personnel about the program. The site that is visited may not be the one where the student is placed, but the classes are similar in structure and purpose. Visits are set up upon receipt of the referral packet.
  4. A student requiring a triennial IEP within six months of the referral must have the triennial IEP held prior to placement.
  5. The Transition Program team meets to determine ESY/Fall placements. Once class placement has been determined, SCOE notifies the district to schedule an intake IEP between March 15 and May 31.
  6. A SCOE administrator completes the IEP paperwork. The SCOE teacher provides Goals and Objectives for the upcoming school year. If the student has an annual or triennial IEP—in addition to the Transition IEP—the district is asked to provide current Present Levels and testing as appropriate.
  7. Parents are asked to complete forms from the SCOE parent packet. An immunization record is required for placement.

For summer school (ESY)/Fall placements, referral packets are requested no later than March 1. This date is very important because the transition team meets shortly after this date to discuss ESY/Fall placements and the information provided in the referral is necessary to ensure the most appropriate placement.

SCOE School Psychologists

Preschool
Judi Schwarzenbach, 522-8521 x48, jschwarzenbach@scoe.org
—For all preschool classes

Region 1
Dana Zapanta, 522-3208, dzapanta@scoe.org
—All 18-22 Transition Classes

Region 2
Tyson Dickinson, 524-2868, tdickinson@scoe.org
—SH Class at Rancho Cotate High
—SKIL class at Cook Middle
—All ED classes (referrals via ICC)

Region 3
Vanessa Riggs, 524-2940, vriggs@scoe.org
—Elementary SH, medically fragile, and autism classes

Region 4
Erin Grant, 522-3276, egrant@scoe.org
—Elementary SH class in Sonoma
—Middle/high school SH and medically fragile

Mailing Address for Referrals

SCOE Special Education
La Fiesta Educational Center
8511 Liman Way, Building A
Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Referral Forms

Related Websites