California Department of Education's Diagnostic Centers provide high quality services to special education students, their families and local educational agencies (LEAs). Authorized by the California legislature in 1944 and established regionally, the three centers are located in Los Angeles, Fresno, and Fremont. Services are provided by expert, transdisciplinary teams of diagnostic professionals, who address the unique educational needs of California's most difficult to serve special education students.
Services include:
- Comprehensive, state-of-the-art assessment and educational planning services to assist local school districts (LEAs) in addressing the needs of their most complex special education students
- Technical assistance, coaching and consultation in program and instructional design and delivery
- Professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators, special education staff, families and service agency personnel
Referrals for assessment services must be made by the student's school district, county office of education, or SELPA. Parent referrals are not accepted. Eligible students are those students who:
- are enrolled in special education,
- are not progressing despite LEA efforts,
- present a complex learning or behavioral profile, and
- for whom the LEA requires additional diagnostic information to assist in defining appropriate educational goals and teaching strategies.
Requests for technical assistance, consultation services, and professional staff development may be made by LEA special education administrators, SELPA directors, county office of education administrators, members of Regional Coordinating Councils, local colleges and universities, parent organizations, and service agencies. Diagnostic Center services are provided at no charge.
