• Special Education Acronyms 

  • ABA

    Applied Behavior Analysis

    AAC/ATT

    Augmentative & Alternative Communication/Assistive Technology Team

    ADA

    Americans with Disabilities Act or Average Daily Attendance

    ADD

    Attention Deficit Disorder

    ADHD

    Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

    ADR

    Alternative Dispute Resolution

    APE

    Adaptive Physical Education

    AT

    Assistive Technology

    CAC

    Community Advisory Committee

    CAHSEE

    California High School Exit Exam

    CAPA

    California Alternative Performance Assessment

    CARS+

    California Association of Resource Specialists and Special Education Teachers

    CAT-6

    California Achievement Test, 6th Edition

    CBI

    Community Based Instruction

    CCR

    Coordinated Compliance Review

    CCS

    California Children’s Services, provides OT (Occupational Therapy), PT (Physical Therapy), Speech and other services to students meeting eligibility criteria

    CDE

    California Department of Education

    CEC

    Council for Exceptional Children

    CFR

    Code of Federal Regulations

    CH

    Communicatively Handicapped

    CMA

    California Modified Assessment

    CMH

    County Mental Health

    COE

    County Office of Education

    Composite of Laws

    California Education Code containing Special Education Laws

    CP

    Cerebral Palsy

    CST

    California Standards Test


    CCSS

    Common Core State Standards

    DCN

    Diagnostic Center North

    DHH

    Deaf/Hard of Hearing

    DDS

    Department of Developmental Services

    DIS

    Designated Instruction Services, same as “related service”; commonly includes OT, PT, Speech Therapy, and Adaptive PE

    ECSE

    Early Childhood Special Education

    ED

    Emotionally Disturbed

    ELL

    English Language Learner

    ESL

    English as a Second Language

    ESY

    Extended School Year

    FAPE

    Free Appropriate Public Education

    FIEP

    Facilitated Individualized Education Program

    GATE

    Gifted and Talented Education

    HH

    Hard of Hearing

    HI

    Hearing Impaired

    IA

    Instructional Assistant

    IDEA

    Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

    IEE

    Independent Education Evaluation

    IEP

    Individualized Education Program

    IFSP

    Individualized Family Service Plan (0-3 years old)

    ID

    Intellectual Disability

    IRC

    Inland Regional Center

    ISP

    Instructional Support Plan

    ITP

    Individualized Transition Plan

    KPI

    Key Performance Indicators

    LD

    Learning Disabled

    LEA

    Local Education Agency

    LEP

    Limited English Proficient

    LH

    Learning Handicapped

    Local Plan

    A legal document that describes in detail how the special education local agency will implement special education laws and regulations within its jurisdiction

    LRE

    Least Restrictive Environment

    MH

    Mental Health Services

    NCLB

    No Child Left Behind

    OH

    Orthopedically Handicapped

    OHI

    Other Health Impaired

    O & M

    Orientation and Mobility

    OT

    Occupational Therapy

    Part C

    Services to 0-3 year olds

    PT

    Physical Therapy

    P.L. 94-142

    Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Federal Law)

    Related Service

    See DIS

    ROC/P

    Regional Occupation Center/Program

    RSP

    Resource Specialist Program

    SBE

    State Board of Education

    SDC

    Special Day Class

    Section 504

    Section of the Civil Rights Law (Rehabilitation Act of 1973) pertaining to Special Education

    SELPA

    Special Education Local Plan Area

    SESR

    Special Education Self Review

    SH

    Severely Handicapped

    SIP

    School Improvement Program

    SLD

    Specific Learning Disability

    SMH

    Severely Multiply Handicapped

    SST

    Student Study Team (Student Success Team, etc.)

    Title 5 Regulations

    California regulations concerning special education laws

    VH

    Visually Handicapped

    VI

    Visually Impaired

    VM

    Visual motor skills: the ability to coordinate vision with body movement