Santa Barbara County
Special Education Local Plan Area ……A Joint Powers Agency
Regional Center for Therapeutic Education (CTE) Program Referral Process
To be completed by the referring Local Educational Agency (LEA)
Prior to referring a student for consideration in a regional CTE program please complete each of the steps in the
referral process below (in sequence):
Note:
Exceptions to the referral checklist/process may be considered under unique circumstances; all
exceptions are to be initiated by the referring LEA’s SPED Administrator/Designee and approved by the
Regional Program Administrator/Designee.
The IEP team meets and discusses a regional program as a possible appropriate placement;
meeting is recessed.

School psychologist and/or special education case manager complete the Regional Center for
Therapeutic Education (CTE) Referral Checklist (See Page 2) and contacts LEA SPED
Administrator/Designee with intent to refer.
LEA SPED Administrator/Designee prepares referral packet to include the following current information
(one year or less) prior to convening IEP with regional program staff:
o Cover letter with referral request and brief history of the case to include developmental, health,
and educational history, including history of previous educational and behavioral interventions
and the results of these interventions. Information/input from the current classroom teacher
should also be included in the letter.
o Current IEP, include any behavior plans
o Current psycho-educational evaluation (intellectual functioning, language, adaptive behavior,
academic skills, emotional functioning, and psycho-motor development)
o Current academic assessment reports (public/private) not included in psychologists report
o Related service assessment reports (if applicable)
o Copies of previous evaluations/reports from the past three years
o Copy of any suspensions or expulsion records and behavior emergency reports
o Observation data
o Student work samples
o
Any other relevant documents.

LEA SPED Administrator/Designee reviews Regional Center for Therapeutic Education (CTE) Referral
Checklist and referral packet and forwards to Regional Program Administrator/Designee to review and
discuss referral.
Regional Class Referral Process Steps:
LEA SPED Administrator/Designee sets up meeting with Regional Program Administrator/Designee.
After meeting is scheduled, an observation is to be conducted by the Regional Program
Administrator/Designee prior to meeting.
Regional Program Administrator/Designee and Referring LEA Director/Designee meet to discuss
referral to regional program.
An IEP takes place to discuss if regional Center for Therapeutic Education (CTE) program is
appropriate. Regional Program Administrator/Designee is to be invited to IEP meeting.
SELPA28B 3-21-13 (E)
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Santa Barbara County
Special Education Local Plan Area ……A Joint Powers Agency
Regional Center for Therapeutic Education (CTE) Program Referral Checklist
To be completed by school psychologist and/or special education case manager prior to referring student to
regional CTE program.
Check the boxes below that are appropriate to the student being referred:
 Student is eligible for special education services.
 Student is eligible under Emotional Disturbance and the emotional disability significantly impedes the
student's education.
o Student’s behavior is not a result of ADHD without ED
o Student’s behavior is not a result of social maladjustment without ED
o Student’s behavior is not a result of a learning disability
o Student’s behavior is not a result of a cognitive deficit
o Student’s behavior is not a result of a speech/language deficit or a language processing disorder
o Student’s behavior is not a result of autism or Asperger syndrome without ED as primary
eligibility
 Student receives Intensive Mental Health services as documented through an Intensive Mental Health
Services Request to SBCSELPA.
o If student is not currently receiving Intensive Mental Health services and the referral to the CTE
Program is urgent in nature (i.e., student is in danger of hurting self or others), the referring
LEA SPED Administrator/Designee shall contact SELPA Mental Health Specialist to discuss
the case prior to an IEP taking place so a concurrent request can be developed for Intensive
Mental Health services.
 LEA has exhausted all other special education supports, including but not limited to:
o
o
o
o
Special education support in a general education setting
Special day class level of support (more than 50% support during the school day) or support in a
structured special education class for the majority of the day
DIS/related services in all areas of suspected need (including DIS counseling)
Intensive Mental Health intervention recommended for a period of at least 3 – 6 months prior to
referral to CTE
 A Positive Behavior Intervention Plan or Positive Behavior Support Plan based on analysis of the
function of the behavior developed and implemented. It is suggested that the behavior plan be
implemented for at least 6 weeks prior to referral.
The student is not making satisfactory progress and needs a more restrictive placement with structure
for more than half of their school day to receive educational benefit.
 Other unique circumstances to be considered by the Regional Program Director/Designee (specify):
SELPA28B 3-21-13 (E)
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