Southwest SELPA

In 1977, all school districts and county school offices were required to form geographical regions of sufficient size and scope to provide for all special education service needs of children residing within the region boundaries. Each region (Special Education Local Plan Area-SELPA) developed a local plan describing how it would provide special education services.

Today, there are approximately 116 SELPA’s in the State, ranging in size from those serving fewer than 1,000 students to those serving more than 10,000 students with the most common size between 2,000 and 4,000 students. (A few SELPA’s have up to 50,000 students with disabilities, although only five SELPA’s have over 10,000).  For more information about the Who, What, Where, When and Why of SELPAs please visit: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/as/caselpas.asp (updated 12/04/09)

The Southwest SELPA services over 14,000 students in 12 School Districts, Charter Schools and the Los Angeles County Office of Education programs. Responsibilities of the SELPA include such things as: Ensuring Program Availability for all Children with Disabilities, Curriculum Development and Support, Community Advisory Committee Support, Transition Planning, Legal Assistance, Program Evaluation, Interagency Coordination, Program Coordination, Fiscal Management, Community Awareness, and Staff Development.

All SELPA’s have the same basic goal…to deliver high quality special education training  and services to the students with disabilities in the most effective manner practicable.

Robert W. Farran, MA - Director, Southwest SELPA

Mr. Farran earned this BA in Speech Pathology/Audiology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and completed his graduate studies at the University of Northern Iowa. He earned an MA in Educational Administration from Azusa Pacific University. Mr. Farran has been a SELPA Director since 1989 and has been with the Southwest SELPA for 17 years. Mr. Farran has been a special education teacher serving children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. As SELPA Director, he has developed the Autism Collaboration Team to support teachers and families as well as Project Optimal, a project to ensure quality behavioral services for children in conjunction with the Dahlman Institute. Mr. Farran has held leadership positions (e.g., Chair of State SELPA and LACOE Administrators of Special Education, Chair of the LACOE Superintendents’ Advisory Council) and is involved in curriculum development, legislative work and parent/community projects. He has trained educators, parents and administrators on advocacy, leadership, funding, team building, language development, inclusion, behavior management and teaching strategies. Bob has received numerous awards and honors, including California State Senate and California Assembly Resolutions for Outstanding Service, the Access Award from the Los Angeles County Commission on Disability, the Council for Exceptional Children’s Administrator Award and Loyola Marymount University’s award for Dedicated Service and Advocacy for Individuals with Disabilities and Their Families.

Martha N. Berry - Assistant Director, Southwest SELPA

Martha was born and raised in Havana, Cuba. She attended the University of Havana, where she completed all the requirements for a PhD in Chemistry and Physics, but left Cuba before defending her dissertation. She worked for USC Medical School as a biochemist. Martha changed careers in 1967 and has been a teacher, counselor and program specialist for the Torrance Unified School District for 34 years. She holds Teaching, Pupil Personnel Services and Administrative credentials. Martha has a MA in Education from Pepperdine University and a MS in Counseling and Guidance from California Lutheran University. She is also a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. Martha is a part-time professor at CSUDH and a staff development presenter.

Search and Serve