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Palo Alto Middle College staff outline expansion plans; parents and experts ask how college‑level services will cover special education needs
Summary
District staff presented the new Palo Alto Middle College High School model, transportation and supports, and projected growth to ~200 students; commenters raised specific questions about how IDEA/Section 504 protections and IEP delivery will operate alongside Foothill College coursework.
Palo Alto Unified staff on Nov. 12 provided a detailed update on Palo Alto Middle College (PAMC), the district’s new middle‑college high school launched in August at Foothill College, and outlined plans to expand to grades 9–12 and grow to roughly 200 students by the fourth year.
Principal Emily Garrison said PAMC offers small learning cohorts, flexible scheduling and simultaneous enrollment in Foothill College courses "without monetary exchange," and noted the program’s focus on students who may not thrive in a traditional high‑school setting. "Students said their favorite parts are the flexible schedule and the small class sizes," she said, and staff described an intentional advisory ("buffalo") period and twice‑daily district bus service to Foothill.
Teachers and program staff described supports for students taking college classes: academic planning with counselors, workshops, case management for special education and wellness services, and coordination with Foothill for disability resources. Francisco Lao, a PAMC teacher, explained cohort scheduling for core classes while students take Foothill courses to satisfy A–G requirements.
Public commenters focused on how federal education protections apply in a college setting. Steven Davis urged clarity on which laws govern protections and services at the college level, noting that Section 504 and the ADA cover college programs while IDEA is limited to K–12 IEP services. He asked whether IEP services for PAMC students would be delivered and supervised by the district, calling for clearer language and operational detail.
Board members asked practical questions about mid‑year admissions, bus usage and how the district will scale staffing and services as enrollment increases. Principal Garrison said the program will accept new students in January and that expansion would involve close partnership with Foothill; she also confirmed the WASC initial accreditation visit is planned for March.
District staff acknowledged challenges in navigating special education in a college environment (differences between college disability resource centers and district IEP services) and said staff are working to align supports and clarify procedures. Several board members requested future updates, including metrics on bus usage and staffing needs as the program grows.
The presentation concluded with thanks to staff and teachers who launched the program; board members praised the initiative while asking staff to return with enrollment and staffing projections and more explicit documentation about how special education protections and accommodations will be operationalized for PAMC students.
