MVLA special education staff report expanded inclusion, new therapeutic class and Alt Diploma planning

The Mountain View–Los Altos Union High School District’s interim director of special education, Megan Hunt, delivered an update April 21 outlining program changes this year and goals for 2025–26, including an expanded co-teaching model, a new Therapeutic Special Day class at Los Altos High School, and planning for California’s alternative diploma.

Hunt said the district has increased co-teaching sections substantially to provide more services in general-education settings rather than pulling students out for specialized instruction. She described specialized academic instruction (SAI) as a spectrum of services — from learning-skills support and therapeutic skills classes to life-skills programs for students with more intensive needs — and explained how the district is refining service delivery to meet present-level assessments and Individualized Education Program (IEP) decisions.

Accomplishments and goals cited by staff - Therapeutic Special Day class: District opened a Therapeutic Special Day class at Los Altos High School this year to serve students with higher social-emotional needs who require more intensive case management and therapeutic support than a one-period therapeutic skills class can provide. - Inclusion and co-teaching: Hunt said co-teaching has been expanded (the district reported increasing co-taught sections from a much smaller base several years ago to 45 co-taught sections this school year) and credited that shift with raising the district’s percentage of students served in general-education settings closer to California Department of Education (CDE) targets. - Alternative diploma (Alt Diploma) planning: The district is preparing to implement the state’s Alt Diploma option for students with extensive support needs; staff have been adjusting course descriptions, curriculum, and schedules to meet the 130-credit requirement identified by the state. - Professional development: The district provided targeted professional learning this year including Safety Care training for preventing and managing behavioral challenges; Social Thinking curriculum work for communication-focused services; legal/procedural training on IEP requirements; and other trainings tailored to staff roles. - Community engagement: Staff held parent-partnership events and special sessions (for example, an Alt Diploma information session) to increase family involvement and improve transition planning with feeder districts.

Why it matters: Hunt framed the changes as moves toward the least restrictive environment (LRE) for students with disabilities and as efforts to reduce placement in more restrictive settings while increasing access to general education. Staff noted CDE targets: the district reported progress over the previous three years toward those targets and identified a 2025–26 goal to continue those gains.

Speakers relevant to this topic - Megan Hunt — Interim Director of Special Education (presenter)

Clarifying details - Co-teaching expansion: Hunt reported co-teaching expanded from 10 sections in 2019 to 45 sections in the present year (district-wide), a change Hunt said helped boost access to general education. - LRE targets: CDE sets targets (for example, 67% in the year referenced, rising to 70% the next year) for the percentage of students with disabilities served inside general education for 80% or more of the day; Hunt said the district has moved closer to those targets but will continue work to meet future thresholds. - Alt Diploma: The Alt Diploma requires 130 identified credits; staff are revising master schedules and course descriptions to implement that pathway for eligible students.

Ending Board members asked clarifying questions and encouraged continued professional learning and parent engagement; staff said they will continue refining inclusionary practices and provide an implementation update in future meetings.