Ross Valley School District provides appropriate and effective educational programs for students with disabilities who are between the ages of three (3) years up to graduation from 8th grade.  Students must meet specific eligibility criteria to be identified as a child with a disability, at which time an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is written.

According to state and federal regulations, students who have been identified as having a disability and in need of special education services are to be provided a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) in which their goals can be met.

Eligibility

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), is legislation that was passed to ensure children with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education that meets their unique needs.  In order to receive special education services, a student must have a disability as defined in IDEA.

The disabilities are autism, visual impairment, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment, emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, speech/language impairment, traumatic brain injury, established medical disability (3-5), multiple disabilities, deafness, deaf-blindness, and other health impairment. 
 
In order to be eligible the student must meet all 3  eligibility prongs. The student must meet one of the thirteen defined criteria and, the disability must adversely impact educational progress and require specially designed instruction which a general education cannot provide.