SELPA stands for Special Education Local Plan Area, and it is an administrative unit that ensures a complete continuum of Special Education services in each region in California. SELPAs are unique to our state and were established in 1974 as a part of the state’s Master Plan for Special Education, long before the development and adoption of the Federal law that governs Special Education today, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). When a school district is of sufficient size and diversity, it is able to be its own SELPA, while other, smaller districts form multidistrict SELPAs. Presently, there are 135 SELPAs in California, and representatives from across California meet monthly to learn from and with each other and to advocate for the needs of students with disabilities at the state and federal levels.

Oakland Unified is its own SELPA and proudly supports students in all OUSD public schools, specific charter schools, homes, hospitals, private schools, and specialized Special Education nonpublic schools.