For some students, no placement within their home district — or even a neighboring one — can appropriately meet their needs. California law addresses this through Non-Public School (NPS) placement: certified, specialized private schools that a public school district contracts with and funds, at no cost to the family, when the public system genuinely cannot provide an appropriate program.
NPS is not the same as unilateral private placement
An NPS placement is proposed and funded by the school district itself as part of the IEP, distinct from a situation where parents place a child privately and later seek reimbursement. Because the district is initiating and paying for it directly, NPS placement generally involves less conflict than a reimbursement case — but getting a district to agree it’s necessary is often its own uphill process.
What has to be shown before NPS is appropriate
IDEA requires students be educated in the Least Restrictive Environment appropriate to their needs, so a district (and, if it comes to that, a hearing officer) will look at whether reasonable supports in a public school setting — aides, specialized programs, smaller class sizes — were tried or seriously considered first, and whether they were, or clearly would be, insufficient.
What San Diego families should gather before requesting NPS
- A clear record of what’s already been tried in the public setting, and why it hasn’t worked.
- Independent evaluations supporting the level of specialized support your child needs.
- Information on specific NPS programs (there are several serving San Diego County, specializing in areas like autism, emotional disturbance, or significant learning disabilities) that match your child’s profile.
If the district resists
Districts often resist NPS placement because of cost, even when it’s clearly warranted — that resistance is not, on its own, a legally sufficient reason to deny it.
Who pays for transportation to an NPS placement?
When an NPS placement is part of the IEP, transportation to and from the program is generally the district’s responsibility as a related service, just as it would be for any other IEP-required placement. That can mean a district-arranged van or bus route, or in some cases mileage reimbursement — the specifics should be written into the IEP itself, not left as an informal understanding. If you believe your San Diego child needs a Non-Public School placement and the district disagrees, or has offered one that doesn’t actually match your child’s needs, we can help you evaluate the options and, if necessary, pursue it through due process.
