State and Federal law ensures that “…all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education [FAPE] … designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.” [Public Law (PL) 108-446, entitled The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA 2004), Section 601(d)(1)(a)].
"'Special education' means specifically designed instruction, at no cost to the parent, to meet the unique needs of individuals with exceptional needs, whose educational needs cannot be met with modification of the regular instruction program, and related services, at no cost to the parent, that may be needed to assist those individuals to benefit from specially designed instruction" [20 U.S.C. Sec. 1401(29); 34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.38; California Education Code Article 2, Section 56031].
San Marcos Unified School District ensures that children with suspected disabilities who reside within the district boundaries are identified, located, and evaluated to determine their eligibility for special education services. Assessment and special education services are available for eligible children from birth through 21 years of age.