Key Special Education Acronyms + Meaning
Key =
- Special Education Services and Related Services (blue)
- Special Education 13 school eligibilities (green)
- Special Education Laws (red)
- School Placement (magenta)
Click the letter to see acronyms that start with it.
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AcronymMeaning
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ABAssembly Bill
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ABAApplied Behavioral Analysis
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ABCAntecedent, Behavior, Consequence
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ACCAlternative Augmentative Communication
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ADAAmericans with Disabilities Act
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ADD/ADHDAttention Deficit/Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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ADRAlternative Dispute Resolution
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APEAdaptive Physical Education
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APEISAssistant Principal, Elementary Instructional Specialist
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ASDAutism Spectrum Disorders
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ASLAmerican Sign Language
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ATAssistive Technology
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AUTAutism
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AcronymMeaning
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BCaBABoard Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst
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BCBABoard Certified Behavior Analyst
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BCBA-DBoard Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral
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BDBehavior Disorder
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BICBehavior Intervention Consultation
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BIDBehavior Intervention Development
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BIIBehavior Intervention Implementation
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BIPBehavioral Intervention Plan
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BSPBehavior Support Plan
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BTPBehavioral Treatment Plan
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AcronymMeaning
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CAPDCentral Auditory Processing Disorder
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CAPTAChild Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
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CBICommunity Based Instructions
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CAHSEECalifornia High School Exit Exam
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CDCCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
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CDECalifornia Department of Education
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CECCalifornia Education Code
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CECCouncil for Exceptional Children
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CFCystic Fibrosis
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CFRCode of Federal Regulations
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CHIPChildren’s Health Insurance Program
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CIFMSContinuous Improvement and Focused Monitoring System
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CMHCounty Mental Health
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COPCommunity of Practice
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CPCerebral Palsy
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CPIRCenter for Parent Information and Resources (that’s us!)
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CPRCCommunity Parent Resource Center
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CPSChild Protective Services
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CSBCalifornia School for the Blind
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CSHCNChildren with Special Health Care Needs
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CSPDComprehensive System of Personnel Development
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CSTChild Study Team
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CSTCalifornia Standards Test
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CUMCumulative File
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AcronymMeaning
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DBDeaf-Blind
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DCFSDepartment of Children and Family Services – Los Angeles County
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DDDevelopmentally Delayed
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DD ActDevelopmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act
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DIBELSDynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy
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DHHDeaf and Hard of Hearing
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DHSThe Department of Health Services
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DISDesignated Instruction and Services
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DMHDepartment of Mental Health
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DoDDSDepartment of Defense Dependent Schools
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DOEThe Department of Education of the State of California
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DSDown Syndrome
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DSM – 5Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association, 5th Edition
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DSSThe Department of Social Services
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DTTDiscrete Trial Training
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AcronymMeaning
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ECEEarly Childhood Education
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ECSEEarly Childhood Special Education
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EDEmotional Disturbance
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EDGAREducation Department General Administrative Regulations
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EHA or EAHCAThe Education for All Handicapped Children Act (now IDEA), or Public Law 94-142
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EHDIEarly Hearing Detection and Intervention Program
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EIEarly Intervention
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EISEarly Intervening Services
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ELLEnglish Language Learner
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EMHEducable Mentally Handicapped **
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EMREducable Mentally Retarded **
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EPSDTEarly Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment
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ERICEducation Resources Information Center
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ERICSCounseling and Educationally Related Intensive Counseling Services
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ESDExtended School Day
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ESEAElementary and Secondary Education Act (now called ESSA)
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ESLEnglish as a Second Language
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ESSAEvery Student Succeeds Act
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ESYExtended School Year
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AcronymMeaning
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FAAFunctional Analysis Assessment
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FAPEFree Appropriate Public Education
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FASFetal Alcohol Syndrome
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FBAFunctional Behavioral Assessment
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FCFacilitated Communication
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FCTFunctional Communication Training
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FEOGFull Educational Opportunity Goal
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FERPAFamily Educational Rights and Privacy Act
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FOIAFreedom of Information Act
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AcronymMeaning
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GARS – 3Gilliam Autism Rating Scale, 3rd Edition
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GATEGifted and Talented Education
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GEGeneral Education
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GPRAGovernment Performance and Results Act
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AcronymMeaning
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HIHearing Impaired
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HIPAAHealth Insurance Portability + Accountability Act
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HOHearing Officer
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HoHHard of Hearing
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HOUSSEHigh Objective Uniform State Standards of Evaluation
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HQTHighly Qualified Teacher [Editor’s Note, January 2016: The definitions and requirements associated with the term “highly qualified teachers” has been deleted from both general and special education legislation as of December 2015. You may still hear this term, but it will soon be a relic left over from past legislation.]
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AcronymMeaning
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IAInstructional Assistant
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IAESInterim Alternative Educational Setting
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IDIntellectual Disabilities (formerly Mental Retardation)
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IDEAIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act
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IEEIndividualized Educational Evaluation
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IEPIndividualized Education Program
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IESInstitute of Education Sciences
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IFSPIndividualized Family Service Plan
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IHEInstitution of Higher Education
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IPP/ISPIndividual Program Plan / Individual Support Plan
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ITItinerant Teacher
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ITCAInfants and Toddlers Coordinators Association
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ITPIndividualized Transition Plan
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AcronymMeaning
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LDLearning Disability
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LEALocal Education Agency (school district)
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LEPLimited English Proficiency (formerly ESL)
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LRELeast Restrictive Environment
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AcronymMeaning
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MDMuscular Dystrophy
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MDMultiple Disabilities
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MDRManifestation Determination Review
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MMRMildly Mentally Retarded **
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Mod MRModerately Mentally Retarded **
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MOUMemorandum of Understanding
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MRMental Retardation **
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MSMultiple Sclerosis
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AcronymMeaning
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NASDSENational Association of State Directors of Special Education
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NCLBNo Child Left Behind Act (Elementary and Secondary Education Act, reauthorized in 2015 as ESSA, Every Student Succeeds Act)
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NIHNational Institutes of Health
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NIMASNational Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard
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NIMHNational Institute of Mental Health
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NPANon Public Agency
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NPSNon Public School
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NPRMNotice of Proposed Rule Making
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AcronymMeaning
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OCDObsessive-Compulsive Disorder
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OCROffice forCivil Rights
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ODDOppositional Defiant Disorder
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OHIOther Health Impairment
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OIOrthopedic Impairment
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O & MOrientation and Mobility Services
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OSEPOffice of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education
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OTOccupational Therapy
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AcronymMeaning
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P & AProtection & Advocacy
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PALSPeer-Assisted Learning System
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PARCCPartnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers
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PASSPlan for Achieving Self-Support
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PBSPositive Behavioral Supports
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PCAPersonal Care Attendant
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PDPhysical Disability
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PDDPervasive Developmental Disorder
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PEPhysical Education
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PECSPicture Exchange Communication System
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PEISpanish acronym for the Individualized Education Program (Plan Educativo Individualizado)
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Perkins ActCarl Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act
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PIIPersonally Identifiable Information
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PKITPreKinder Itinerant Teacher
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PLPublic Law
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PLOP or PLPPresent Level of of Performance
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PPParaprofessional
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PRTPivotal Response Training
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PSPreschool
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PTPhysical Therapy
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PTACParent Technical Assistance Center
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PTIParent Training and Information Center
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AcronymMeaning
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RBTRegistered Behavioral Technician
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RDAResults-Driven Accountability
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RFPRequest for Proposals
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RSRelated Services
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RSPResource Specialist Program
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RSYRegular School Year
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RTRecreation Therapy
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RTIResponse to Intervention
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RTTTRace to the Top Fund
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AcronymMeaning
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§This symbol means “Section” as in “§ 300.7 Child with a disability” in the IDEA regulations
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SAISpecialized Academic Instruction
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SASSupplementary Aids and Services
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SBSpina Bifida
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SBA Senate Bill of the California Legislature
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SCHIPState Children’s Health Insurance Program
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SDCSpecial Day Class
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SEAState Education Agency
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SEACSpecial Education Advisory Committee
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Section 504504 of the Rehabilitation Act
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SELPASpecial Education Local Plan Area
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SISensory Integration
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SIBSelf-Injurious Behavior
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SIGState Improvement Grant
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SIMRState-Identified Measurable Results for Children with Disabilities
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SIPState Implementation Plan
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SLDSpecific Learning Disability
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SLISpeech or Language Impairment
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SLPSpeech and Language Pathologist
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SPEDSpecial Education
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SPOASpecific Power of Attorney
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SPPState Performance Plan
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SSDISocial Security Disability Income
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SSISupplemental Security Income
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SSIPState Systemic Improvement Plan
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SSTStudent Study Team
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AcronymMeaning
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TA & DTechnical Assistance and Dissemination Network funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
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TANFTemporary Assistance to Needy Families
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TBITraumatic Brain Injury
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TBSTherapeutic Behavior Services
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TDDTelecommunication Devices for the Deaf
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TMHTrainable Mentally Handicapped **
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TMRTrainable Mentally Retarded **
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TSTourette Syndrome
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T-TATraining and Technical Assistance
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TTYTeletypewriter (phone system for the deaf)
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TWWIIATicket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act
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AcronymMeaning
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VIVisual Impairment
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Voc EdVocational Education
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VRVocational Rehabilitation
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AcronymMeaning
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WICWomen, Infants and Children (Special Supplemental Food Program)
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WWCWhat Works Clearinghouse