Paradise Unified School District

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Student Services

Dena Kapsalis - Director of Student Services

(530) 872-6400 x1238

Tristaka Parker - Administrative Assistant

(530) 872-6400 x1229

Welcome to the P.U.S.D. Student Services Department

Using California's Multi-Tiered System of Support (CA MTSS) Framework Paradise Unified School District promotes and ensures equity, opportunity, inclusion, and access for all students. We do this by providing resources, assistance, current practices, and regional connections to all who support students. We, at Student Services, are a united team who are all trauma-informed and continuously learning research-based and progressive supports with emphasis on the Whole Child. We work authentically, empathetically, and collaboratively with all stakeholders within P.U.S.D. and Butte County.

SELPA

The Student Services Department works closely with our Butte County SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area) that provides special education services in cooperation with school districts. The SELPA continues to ensure that eligible children, birth through age twenty-one, with handicaps have the opportunity to participate in programs and receive appropriate Special Education services. Programs and services are available for eligible pupils from infancy through age 22.

SELPA Local Plan

If the parent and the school agree that the child has a disability and requires special education services, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be designed to meet the child's needs. This will take place at a meeting attended by parents and the school personnel and may include others as appropriate.

The State Education Code calls for inclusion of the following elements in an IEP:

A summary of the assessment findings, including your child's strengths as well as needs.
A statement of goals and objectives, which the group suggests for your child.
A list of specific services that will be used to find out how well the plan is working (evaluation).
A recommendation for placement.
The starting date and frequency of services

For information on parents' rights and resources, please visit California Department of Education website.

Available Services

Adult Education

Paradise Adult School offers an array of programs and courses, most are offered free or at a very low cost.

Please call Josh Berry at (530) 872-6422 x7002.

Special Education

A summary of the assessment findings, including your child's strengths as well as needs.
A statement of goals and objectives, which the group suggests for your child.
A list of specific services that will be used to find out how well the plan is working (evaluation).
A recommendation for placement.
The starting date and frequency of services

For information on parents' rights and resources, please visit California Department of Education website.

Homeless, Foster Youth, McKinney-Vento

While some foster youth are adopted into stable, loving homes, many more are placed into a series of temporary living situations, including short-term care, respite care, and group homes. This instability tends to severely impact student achievement. Homeless students are defined by the federal McKinney-Vento Act as youth who "lack a fixed, regular and adequate night time residence."

Child Welfare, Attendance, and SARB (Student Attendance Review Board)

In an effort to reduce chronic absenteeism and truancy, we work with all sites and at the district level through a multi-level approach. We use restorative justice practices while supporting families and students in addressing barriers to school attendance.

Suspensions and Expulsions

eLearning, and Independent Study, Home Hospital

We offer a variety of programs through Paradise Unified School District.

eLearning - Online learning presents a unique opportunity for students seeking alternate pathways to a high school diploma. The goal of our WASC-accredited online charter high school is to address the diverse learning needs of our students in grades K-12 and offer a variety of opportunities to students on the Paradise Ridge. Choose a full-time, part-time or blended learning model. Located on Paradise High School campus.

Independent Study - Offered to grades K-12 and consistent with PUSD's course of study. This alternative instructional strategy offers the flexibility to meet individual student needs, interests, and styles of learning. Meet face-to-face with your teacher on a weekly basis while working from home on packet school work.

Home Hospital - A student with a temporary disability which makes school attendance impossible or inadvisable shall receive individual instruction in the student's home or in a hospital or other residential health facility, excluding state hospitals. This instruction applies to students incurring a physical, mental or emotional disability after which they can reasonably be expected to return to regular day classes or an alternative education program without special intervention. It does not apply to students identified as individuals with exceptional needs pursuant to Education Code 56026. (Education Code 48206.3)

Resources

Butte County SELPA - Butte County Office of Education is dedicated to the belief that all students can learn and that students with special needs must be guaranteed equal opportunity to become contributing members of society.
The BCOE Special Education Department provides educational services to individuals 0 to 22 years of age who have various forms of disabilities.