Los Angeles Special Education Attorney

Los Angeles Serves 1.3 Million Students Across 80 School Districts

Los Angeles Unified School District - California’s Largest and the Nation’s 2nd-Largest School District with tens of thousands of students who require special education.

As special education attorneys serving Los Angeles and the surrounding communities, we understand that navigating special education within the Los Angeles County districts and particularly the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) can be overwhelming for families. As California’s largest school district and the second largest in the United States, LAUSD serves over half a million students, including tens of thousands who require special education services. The district’s Special Education Division is responsible for providing tailored support to these students, but due to the district’s vast size, the delivery of timely and effective services can vary significantly. While LAUSD must comply with federal and state special education laws, families often face challenges in understanding their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Whether you are seeking help with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), placement options, or preparing for due process, having clear, accurate information and legal support is crucial. This page offers an overview of how special education works within LAUSD, common obstacles families encounter, and actionable steps you can take when services fall short.

We regularly work with families in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the districts below.

The Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE) serves as a liaison between the California Department of Education and the 18 Alameda County public school districts that serve more than 211,000 students and 12,000 teachers. It also serves alternative education schools. ACOE directly operates Court Schools at the Juvenile Justice Center, ACOE Opportunity Academy schools serving students 16 and older seeking a high school diploma, and Community Schools that serve foster youth, students in substance abuse treatment, parenting teens, Probation-referred youth, and students expelled from their resident school districts.
The ABC Unified School District is a school district that is based in Cerritos, California, United States. ABCUSD serves the cities of Artesia, most of Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, the portion of Lakewood east of the San Gabriel River, as well as tiny portions of Long Beach, Norwalk, La Mirada, and Santa Fe Springs.
Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District is a school district serving the rural unincorporated communities of Acton and Agua Dulce in northern Los Angeles County, California. The district includes three schools, all in Acton: Vasquez High School, High Desert Middle School, and Meadowlark Elementary School.
The Alhambra Unified School District is a school district based in Alhambra, California. For grades K-12, AUSD serves the city of Alhambra and most of the city of Monterey Park.
The Antelope Valley Union High School District (A.V.U.H.S.D.) is located in the Antelope Valley area of California, in northern Los Angeles County. The union high school district includes eight public high schools, one trade school, and two continuation high schools in the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster and their immediate suburbs. The A.V.U.H.S.D. cares for all high school level education in the metropolitan area.
The Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) is a school district located in Arcadia, California. The district consists of six elementary schools, three middle schools, and one high school.
Azusa Unified School District is a public unified school district based in Azusa, California, in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The district serves students in Azusa, the northwestern portion of Covina, parts of southeast Irwindale, the northern portion of Vincent, most of Citrus, and the western portion of Glendora.
Baldwin Park Unified School District is a public school district based in Baldwin Park, a city in the central San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The school district covers all of Baldwin Park and the southern portion of Irwindale.
The Bassett Unified School District is a California public unified school district based in the La Puente Valley of the eastern region of the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County, California, United States.
The Bellflower Unified School District (BUSD) is a school district in Los Angeles County, California. It serves the city of Bellflower as well as portions of Cerritos and Lakewood.
The Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) is a public school district based in the city of Beverly Hills, California. It was unified into an elementary and high school district in 1936. Serving the city of Beverly Hills, it consists of one middle school, two elementary schools, and one high school (Beverly Hills High School).
The Bonita Unified School District has over 10,000 students in 14 schools. The district’s headquarters are in San Dimas.
Burbank Unified School District is a school district headquartered in Burbank, California, United States.
Castaic Union School District is a public school district serving unincorporated Castaic, portions of unincorporated Valencia, and a very small portion of the city of Santa Clarita within Los Angeles County, California, offering elementary and secondary instruction, grades pre-K through eighth.
Centinela Valley Union High School District (CVUHSD) is a public union high school district located in southern California that serves about 6,800 students in grades 9–12 from all of Lawndale and Lennox, most of Hawthorne and Alondra Park, and a small portion of Inglewood.
Charter Oak Unified School District (COUSD) is a unified school district located in Covina, California, serving nearly 5,000 students in the unincorporated community of Charter Oak and portions of the cities of Covina, Glendora and San Dimas, and the unincorporated community of West San Dimas.
Claremont Unified School District is a Los Angeles County school district in Claremont, California. It consists of 7 elementary schools, 1 intermediate and 2 high schools.
Compton Unified School District is a school district headquartered in Compton, California, United States. The district serves almost all of Compton, all of East Rancho Dominguez, most of Willowbrook CDP, portions of Carson, Lynwood, West Rancho Dominguez CDP, and a small sliver of Paramount.
Covina-Valley Unified School District (C-VUSD) is a unified school district located in Covina, California, United States. C-VUSD serves most of Covina, a large portion of West Covina, small portions of Glendora, Irwindale and San Dimas and the unincorporated communities of Citrus, Ramona and Vincent.
Culver City Unified School District, abbreviated CCUSD, is a school district located in Culver City, California that serves approximately 6,500 pupils in a variety of schools.
Downey Unified School District (“DUSD”) is the public school system in Downey, California, United States. It serves most of Downey and portions of Bellflower, Bell Gardens, and South Gate. The enrollment for 2009 is 22,500 divided among thirteen elementary, four middle, and three high schools.
The Duarte Unified School District is a school district located in Duarte, California. The district serves students from Duarte, Bradbury and the unincorporated southern portions of Duarte and Monrovia. The district is relatively small, containing only 1 elementary (K-6) school, 4 K-8 schools, 1 comprehensive high school and 1 continuation high school.
East Whittier City School District is a school district based in Whittier, California, United States. EWCSD serves a large portion of the city of Whittier, and operates Elementary and Middle schools. The city’s secondary schools are encompassed by the Whittier Union High School District.
The Eastside Union School District is only serving Transitional Kindergarten through the 8th grade. All public high school level education (9th – 12th grades) in the metropolitan area is provided by the Antelope Valley Union High School District.
The El Monte City School District is in El Monte, California. The district serves western and central El Monte and the southeastern portion of Temple City. It serves as a feeder district for El Monte Union High School District. It includes 14 elementary schools: eight serving grades K-6, and six serving grades K-8.
The El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) is a public high school district headquartered in El Monte, California. It serves the cities of El Monte, South El Monte, the unincorporated community of North El Monte, the northern portion of Rosemead, and the southeastern portion of Temple City. It has10,000 students in grades 9 through 12. It includes 5 comprehensive high schools, a continuation high school, and an adult school.
The El Rancho Unified School District is located in the City of Pico Rivera, California.
El Segundo Unified School District is a school district headquartered in El Segundo, California, United States. The district serves all residents living in El Segundo and covers the western part of the city; the portion of the Wiseburn School District in El Segundo has businesses but no residents.
Garvey School District (founded in 1891) is a pre-K-8 school district with headquarters located in the city of Rosemead, California. It operates nine pre-K-6 elementary schools, one pre-K-8 elementary school and two intermediate schools (grades 7-8). The district serves more than 6000 students from diverse backgrounds.
The Glendale Unified School District is a school district based in Glendale, California, United States. The school district serves the city of Glendale, portions of the city of La Cañada Flintridge and the unincorporated communities of Montrose and La Crescenta. It consists of 20 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 4 high schools and 3 facilities for homeschoolers and special-needs students.
Glendora Unified School District is a public school district based in Glendora, Los Angeles County, California, United States. The school district covers northern and central Glendora. The school board is composed of five members, at-large, elected to a four-year term.
Gorman Joint School District is a public school district in Gorman, California. It is the smallest school district in Los Angeles County.
The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District (HLPUSD) is a school district located in Southern California. It is the largest school district in the east San Gabriel Valley in terms of student population, serving 20,000 students from the unincorporated community of Hacienda Heights, portions of the cities of Industry, La Puente and West Covina and portions of the unincorporated communities of Avocado Heights, Valinda and West Puente Valley.
Hawthorne High School is a public high school located in Hawthorne, California, within the Centinela Valley Union High School District. It opened in 1951 with 9th and 10th grades.
The Hermosa Beach School District is responsible for public education in the city of Hermosa Beach, California. It has 3 schools Hermosa Valley (5-8) Hermosa View (Pre-k-1) Hermosa Vista (2-4).
Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes Union Elementary School District is a school district based in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It serves the unincorporated community of Lake Hughes and has one school under its jurisdiction.
Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) is a public school system district headquartered in Inglewood, California. IUSD serves most of the city of Inglewood and much of the unincorporated Los Angeles County community of Ladera Heights. A small section of View Park-Windsor Hills and a small section of Los Angeles are in the district boundaries.
The Keppel Union School District is a school district that serves the far eastern parts of the city of Palmdale, California, USA, and its immediate suburbs including Littlerock, Pearblossom, Sun Village, Llano, and Lake Los Angeles. The Keppel Union School District has approximately 3,100 students enrolled in 6 schools.
The La Cañada Unified School District is located in the city of La Cañada Flintridge, in Los Angeles County, southern California. It includes the majority of La Cañada Flintridge and some land in the City of Pasadena. The La Cañada Unified School District is a high performing, TK-12 public school district which operates three elementary schools, and one combined junior/senior high school. All three elementary schools and middle/high school combined serve approximately 4000 students.

The Lancaster School District is a school district that serves a major part of the city of Lancaster, California. The Lancaster School District was first formed in 1885. Approximately 15,500 students are enrolled in the Lancaster School District. The district consists of 21 schools
Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) is a K–12 school district headquartered in Calabasas, California, United States. The district, serving the western section of the San Fernando Valley and the eastern Conejo Valley in Los Angeles County, consists of 14 public schools.
Lawndale Elementary School District (LESD) is a school district headquartered in Lawndale, California, United States.
Lennox Elementary School District is a public school district based in Lennox, an unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, California. The district serves a few sections of Hawthorne. The district was established in 1910.
The Little Lake City School District is a small K-8 public school district in Los Angeles County, California. As of 2005, LLCSD serves about 4,900 students.
The Long Beach Unified School District is a school district headquartered in Long Beach, California, United States. Established in 1885, Long Beach Unified School District now educates 81,000 students in 84 public schools in the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, Carson, and Avalon on Catalina Island. The school district is the third largest in California and serves one of the most diverse large cities in the United States.
LACOE is committed to serving the educational needs of diverse student populations. LACOE provides direct instruction to juvenile justice involved students through juvenile court schools, alternative education for at-promise students who benefit from specialized programs. LACOE also oversees California’s largest early learning Head Start-State Preschool program as well as operates the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and the Los Angeles County International Polytechnic High School.
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is a public school district in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is the largest public school system in California in terms of number of students and the 2nd largest public school district in the United States, with only the New York City Department of Education having a larger student population.
Los Nietos School District is a K-8 school district in West Whittier-Los Nietos, California, that also serves portions of Whittier, California and Santa Fe Springs, California. Founded in 1861, it is one of the oldest school districts in Southern California.
Lynwood Unified School District is a school district headquartered in Lynwood, California, United States.
The Manhattan Beach Unified School District is responsible for public education in the city of Manhattan Beach, California. It oversees one preschool, five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
Monrovia Unified School District is a school district in Los Angeles County, California. Its headquarters is in Monrovia. The district has 1 early learning center, 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 high school, 1 Alternative Schools, and one community adult school. It has a total of 5,989 K-12 students and 3,000 adult students.
Montebello Unified School District is a school district in California (Los Angeles County). During the 2023 school year, 20,446 students attended one of the district’s 29 schools.
Mountain View School District is a public school district based in Los Angeles County, California, United States that operates ten elementary schools, two middle schools, and two learning centers.
The Newhall School District is an elementary school district in the Santa Clarita Valley that serves the Valencia and Newhall communities within the city of Santa Clarita, California, as well as the Stevenson Ranch community in unincorporated Los Angeles County. It currently includes ten schools.
The Norwalk–La Mirada Unified School District (NLMUSD) is a school district in Los Angeles County, California, with its headquarters in Norwalk. It has schools in both Norwalk and La Mirada areas. The school district serves most of Norwalk and La Mirada and Santa Fe Springs.
The Palmdale School District is a public school district located in Palmdale, California that administers 28 schools and other public education institutions, the majority of which are elementary and middle schools.
The Palos Verdes School District (PVSD) formed on January 26, 1925 as an elementary school district officially when unincorporated Palos Verdes withdrew from the Los Angeles City Elementary School District. The District began by serving 26 students from kindergarten through 8th grade
Paramount Unified School District is a school district headquartered in Paramount, California, United States. The district serves the city of Paramount, and portions of Bellflower, Compton, Lakewood, Long Beach, and South Gate, with eleven elementary schools, five middle schools, one comprehensive high school (Paramount High School), and a number of other educational facilities.
The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) was founded in 1874 and is a unified school district for Pasadena, Sierra Madre, and Altadena.
Pomona Unified School District or PUSD serves approximately 30,000 Pre-K-12 students and 17,000 adult learners at 44 schools in Pomona and Diamond Bar, California. It is located 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, and is the fourth-largest school district in Los Angeles County.
Redondo Beach Unified School District is a school district with approximately 10,000 students headquartered in Redondo Beach, California. The school district consists of eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, one continuation school, and one adult school.
The Rosemead School District is a school district headquartered in Rosemead, California, serving the northern portion of the city
Rowland Unified School District (RUSD) is a public pre-K-12 school district in the San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles County, California. Its headquarters are in Rowland Heights, an unincorporated area in the county.
San Gabriel Unified School District, also known as SGUSD, is a public school district that serves the community of San Gabriel, California. It is located in the San Gabriel Valley area. SGUSD separated itself from the Alhambra Unified School District. This is a rather small district which has only one middle school and one high school.
San Marino Unified School District is a school district located in San Marino, California. he district consists of two elementary schools (K.L. Carver Elementary School & Valentine Elementary School), one middle school (Henry E. Huntington Middle School) and one high school (San Marino High School).
Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) is a school district located in Santa Monica, California. The district serves the cities of Santa Monica and Malibu. It has ten elementary schools, two middle schools, three high schools, an adult high school, and an alternative school.
Saugus Union School District (SUSD) is a public California school district located in Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, California. The district serves students in grades TK/K-6 in Saugus, most of Valencia, and parts of Canyon Country. There are also pre-school programs on-site at many of the schools. The district includes 15 elementary schools.
South Pasadena Unified School District is the school district serving South Pasadena, California. Established in 1886, South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) serves approximately 4,800 students at three elementary schools, one middle school and one comprehensive high school.
South Whittier Elementary School District serves grades K-8 with a population of 2700 students.
The Sulphur Springs School District is an elementary school district in Los Angeles County, California. It serves the east side of the Santa Clarita Valley, including most of Canyon Country. As of 2023, the district has 9 elementary schools.
Temple City Unified School District is the governing public school system of Temple City, California, in the West San Gabriel Valley. Encompassing approximately four square miles, the District includes within its boundaries most of the incorporated city of Temple City, small areas of Arcadia and San Gabriel, and some unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.
Torrance Unified School District (TUSD) is a school district in Los Angeles County, California. The district has 19 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, 4 high schools, one continuation high school, one alternative high school, and three adult school campuses.
Valle Lindo Elementary School District. Established in 1863, this District of two schools is the third oldest district in the state.
The Walnut Valley Unified School District is located in the eastern portion of Los Angeles County and is a part of the Greater Los Angeles Area of the state of California. It serves most of the Walnut, the southern portion of Diamond Bar and a very small portion of West Covina.
West Covina Unified School District (WCUSD) is a unified school district located and serves the city of West Covina, California. It is located in the San Gabriel Valley area. There are 2 high schools (plus an alternative and an continuation), 3 middle schools, 8 elementary schools in the district.
The Westside Union School District in Southern California serves the western parts of Palmdale and Lancaster and their immediate suburbs, including Quartz Hill, Del Sur, Leona Valley, Antelope Acres, and Neenach.
The Whittier City School District (also known as Whittier City Elementary School District and WCSD) is a K-8 school district in Whittier, California. It serves students. It was originally founded in 1898.
Whittier Union High School District is a California high school district in Los Angeles County, California, headquartered in Whittier. The union high school district was formed in 1900 and is currently composed of five comprehensive high schools, two alternative high schools, and an adult education center. Combined, these schools serve over 13,000 students.
William S. Hart High School is a four-year public high school in the neighborhood of Newhall in the city of Santa Clarita, California, United States. Founded in 1945, it is the oldest high school in the Santa Clarita Valley.
The Wilsona School District is a school district that serves most of the rural community of Lake Los Angeles, California, and its surrounding areas. It neighbors Keppel Union School District which also serves part of the community of Lake Los Angeles to the south.
The Wiseburn Unified School District is a school district in Los Angeles County, California operating elementary and middle schools, and hosting charter high schools. Its headquarters are on the grounds of the Da Vinci charter schools facility in El Segundo. Previously they were in Hawthorne.

What are the largest districts in Los Angeles County?

1. Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
2. Long Beach Unified School District
3. Santa Ana Unified School District

How do I know what Los Angeles County district I belong to?

Use the L.A. County Office of Education (LACOE) School District Locator

1. Visit the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) website.
2. It is usually associated with your city/location, for example Los Angeles Unified School District, Long Beach Unified School District, Pasadena Unified School District. Then go on your School District website and look for their Boundaries Map Tool or locator and enter your home address.

What if I disagree with the district's IEP and/or assessments?

Call an IEP Meeting to Discuss Concerns
Request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)
Consult a Special Education Attorney

Know Your Child’s Rights

Access the IEP Pocketbook

Our IEP Pocketbook is a convenient resource for quickly accessing information to advocate for your child’s rights effectively. While we aim to empower you as a strong advocate for your child, it’s important to remember that asking for help is okay. We work with some of the best and most experienced special education advocates to ensure your child receives the education they deserve.

Areas of Practice

Our mission is to help families like yours navigate the educational system and obtain the services and support your child needs to thrive. Our team of expert attorneys can advocate for your child’s rights and help you resolve any conflicts with your school district.

Special Education

We focus solely on educational law in Southern California, offering legal assistance to families and children of all abilities. We’re here to help parents understand Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and ensure that every child gets the education they deserve.

Special Education Eligibility

In 1975, Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to ensure that all children with disabilities have access to a free, specialized education tailored to their individual needs. To qualify, a child must be "adversely affected" by one of the 13 disabilities listed under IDEA. If a child is suspected of having a disability, their school or parents may request an evaluation.

Individualized Education Program

Knowing whether your student needs an individual education plan (IEP) or 504 Plan is a critical step in your special education student’s academic endeavors and may provide your student with a better framework for success in the classroom.

Federal Appeals

In a situation where you lose all or some of your legal issues in the California Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), you are able to appeal the OAH decision in federal court. The appeal is filed within the United States District Court, which varies depending on which district you are aligned with.

504 Accommodations

A federal law that intercepts discrimination against children with special needs in the learning environment, whether on public, private, or charter school grounds. Under this arrangement, any education space that has access to federal funding MUST make the appropriate accommodations to secure the notion that all students with disabilities are provided a free public education.

Due Process

Parents and teachers can resolve issues surrounding a child’s education in a perfect world. However, in some cases, issues concerning special education may leave parents with no option other than to take a more official route — this is where due process comes in.