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Board unanimously adopts Modesto special‑education local plan and annual services/budget for 2025–26
Summary
The Modesto City Schools board approved the Special Education Local Plan (SULPA) and its associated 2025–26 annual budget and services plan after a public hearing. SULPA directors outlined program locations, funding sources and compliance obligations; parents urged more timely, effective reading interventions for students with disabilities.
The Modesto City Schools board held a public hearing and voted unanimously on June 9 to adopt the district's Special Education Local Plan and the required annual budget and services plan for the 2025–26 school year.
Kristen Panu and Chris Romero, SULPA co‑directors, explained the plan's purpose: to document how special education services are provided within the district, ensure legal compliance (IDEA and California Education Code), and identify annual revenues and expenditures, including federal IDEA, state AB 602, and local funds. The presentation included a service map that lists site locations for specialized programs, regionalization of some services, non‑public school placements, and preschool inclusion programs.
During public comment, Felipe (Philipe) Alvarez urged the district to implement reading interventions he said are required by recent state law (AB1454) and described his son's low reading level despite years of IEP meetings. SULPA presenters described available services and the processes for individualized educational plans but did not resolve the parent's case on the dais; the board approved the SULPA adoption and the annual plans and directed staff to continue using established SELPA/IEP channels for individual follow up.
The board's formal motion to adopt the SULPA and the 2025–26 annual budget and services plan carried unanimously.
Ending: The approved plan will be submitted to the county superintendent of schools for timely delivery to the California Department of Education by the June 30 statutory deadline. Individual parents with case concerns were advised to continue IEP follow‑up with district special education staff and the SELPA.
Quotes: "This local plan ensures access to special education and related services for individuals with exceptional needs who reside within our boundaries," Chris Romero said while reviewing service locations.
"If we identify a need, we must also be clear what services will follow," parent Felipe Alvarez told the board, describing seven years of attempts to secure effective reading interventions for his son.
Ending: With the board's approval the district will submit the plan to the county and state and proceed with the budgets and site service allocations described in the plan.
