Special Education Department

The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) Special Education Department provides special education-related services to the 13 school districts within Sacramento County for students from birth through 22 years of age. Approximately 200 SCOE Special Education Department staff members work across the county, providing support to students and families.

Infant Development Program

The Infant Development Program serves children from birth to age three. It also serves preschool programs in community/district settings that serve students with special needs. The program is also a partner in the Quality Child Care Collaborative (QCCC), a group of community agencies and educational and governmental institutions that provide training and resources to childcare providers in the Sacramento area for students with special needs.

Foundations Academy

Through its Foundations Academy, SCOE provides special day class programs for students (ages three to 22) with emotional disabilities, severe cognitive/physical/medical disabilities, or autism. Specialized services include vision, orientation and mobility, speech and language, and access to school nurses and psychologists. Arcohe and Elverta School Districts receive support from SCOE for specialized services, including school nurses and psychologists. SCOE provides 40 special day classroom settings at more than 20 sites across local school districts.

Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School

SCOE operates Leo A. Palmiter Junior/Senior High School to serve students in grades 7–12 with the primary disability of Emotional Disturbance. The school provides highly structured behavioral support and a strong career technical emphasis, helping to ensure students with disabilities can successfully progress from school to adult life. To meet the unique educational, behavioral, and mental health needs of its students, who are referred by local school districts, Palmiter offers a range of services that promote a positive learning environment. Core academics are paired with real-world experience in a variety of fields.

• Culinary Arts Program—Students in the Culinary Arts Program learn to prepare meals, maintain a clean kitchen, and operate a business. They also serve customers in the Culinary Café.
  • Culinary Café Menu—menus are published as they become available
• Urban Oasis Project—Horticulture students learn to build and maintain food gardens. Produce grown by students is also included in many of the dishes served at the Culinary Café.

Court School and Community School Programs

Special education services are provided to students at SCOE Community School programs, as well as at El Centro Jr./Sr. High School, the Juvenile Court School program located inside the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility.