District drafts plan to take over Mild/Moderate special education program from County Office of Education

What happened

Plaza Elementary's board packet includes a draft Program Transfer Plan under which the District would assume direct operation of its Mild/Moderate Support Needs special education program from the Glenn County Office of Education (GCOE), with a proposed effective date of July 1, 2027. The plan is explicitly marked DRAFT/NOT FOR SUBMISSION, pending further coordination with GCOE and SELPA on staffing, fiscal, and program details.

Why it matters to families

This is a proposed, consequential shift in how special education services for students with IEPs are staffed and delivered, moving oversight from the county to the District. It affects staffing (education specialists, aides, SLP, psychologist), family communication, and includes acknowledged risks such as possible staff turnover and a compressed hiring timeline before the January 31, 2027 deadline for finalizing contracted services.

The evidence

Draft document states: 'PESD requests approval to assume direct operation of its Mild/Moderate Support Needs program, currently operated by the Glenn County Office of Education (GCOE), effective July 1, 2027... DRAFT — NOT FOR SUBMISSION... significant information required to complete this plan (staffing, fiscal, and program details) has not yet been provided by GCOE.'

The source