Tulare County Office of Education

Special Services Division

Marilyn Rankin, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent, Special Services
(559) 730-2910, Ext. 5120
marilynr@tcoe.org

Approximately 7,500 students from birth to 21 years of age are served by Special Education in the 46 school districts in the county and by the Tulare County Office of Education.

In Tulare County, all 46 school districts are part of the Tulare County/District Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). The Tulare County Office of Education houses the SELPA office and acts as the administrative head of the SELPA. The governance of the SELPA is vested in the Superintendent's Governance Committee composed of superintendents representing the 46 districts and by the Tulare County Superintendent of Schools, Jim Vidak. For additional information on the SELPA, click on the SELPA icon in the left menu.

The Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) operates programs to meet the full range of needs for mildly handicapped to profoundly handicapped students. Services can range from Designated Instructional Services (DIS) which supplement regular classroom instruction to Special Day Classes (SDC) for students who need a modified curriculum. When necessary, home or hospital instruction is available, as is residential private placement.

The TCOE also operates the Bright Start Parent/Infant Program to serve children from birth to age 3 who have, or are at risk of having, disabilities.

TCOE also provides educational services to at-risk students who attend Court and Community Schools and to incarcerated youth.

The Tulare County Office of Education provides special education services for students in the 34 small school districts and for developmentally disabled students throughout the county.

Please direct web site problems or comments to tcoeweb@tcoe.org.