California Department of Education Special Education
Compliance Complaints

The Educational Equity Compliance Office is responsible for responding to special education compliance complaints filed with the California Department of Education (CDE).

A parent, guardian or advocate may send a written complaint to:

Procedural Safeguards Referral Service
Special Education Division
California Department of Education
1430 N. Street, Suite 2401
Sacramento, CA 95814

The CDE must resolve the complaint within 60 days. It will review all relevant information and make an independent determination about the alleged education code violations. An on-site investigation may be conducted if necessary and a written decision will be provided to the complainant addressing each allegation.

Thirty days after the timeline for corrective action, the CDE's Focused Monitoring Techincal Assistance Unit contacts the complainant to confirm that the complaint has been resolved. Additional information regarding the filing of a state complaint may be accessed by calling the Procedural Safeguards Referral Service at (800) 926-0648.

A complaint may also be filed through the District's Uniform Complaint Procedures through the Office of Specially Funded Programs. A report of findings is developed within 60 days of receiving the written complaint addressing the complaint's special education allegations of education code violations.

For information regarding the District's Uniform Complaint Procedures please contact:

Specially Funded Programs
Compliance & Technical Support Branch
333 South Beaudry Avenue
20th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
telephone: (213) 241-6990

For information regarding California Department of Education Special Compliance Procedures, contact:

Educational Equity Compliance
333 South Beaudry Avenue
20th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90017
telephone: (213) 241-7682
fax: (213) 241-3312

PDF Downloads

Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) 2008-2009 - Memorandum No. MEM-4210.0