April 14, 2020
Subject: Special Education Distance-Learning and Support During COVID-19 School Closures
Dear Parent(s) / Guardian(s):
The Menifee Union School District is adhering to COVID-19 guidance being provided to us by
state and county agencies, and the physical and emotional safety of our students, families, and
staff is our highest priority. In accordance with the order recently issued by the County Health
Officer of the County of Riverside, the Menifee Union School District has closed schools for the
remainder of the 2019-2020 school year to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
During this this temporary, emergency situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic, your child
will receive special education and related supports identified in the Individualized Education
Program (IEP), to the greatest extent possible, through an alternative, distance-learning model,
which may include: Google Classroom assignments and materials, emails, phone calls, and/or
online meetings with your child and/or you. Please be aware, this short-term distance-learning
model is not a change of placement or a change in the District’s offer of a Free Appropriate
Public Education (FAPE) for your child. Instead, this is how the District will provide your child's
special education supports to the greatest extent possible during this unprecedented health
crisis. When our schools open for the 2020-2021 school year, your child's IEP will resume as
the same program and model your child received prior to the mandated school closures and
Safer-at-Home orders.
The District is striving to ensure your child has access to educational opportunities despite the
difficult circumstances posed by this nationwide emergency. To that end, please be advised that
distance-learning and support generally requires that your child’s first and last name is visible on
Google Classroom(s) and other instructional platforms. In addition, when / if your child
participates in “live” online interactions with teachers, support providers, and / or other students,
your child might be seen on screen by non-students and / or non-staff. If you wish to opt-out of
these inherent distance-learning and support circumstances for your child, please contact your
child’s principal and case manager.
As the parent(s) / guardian(s) of a child with a disability, you have protection under the federal
parental rights’ and procedural safeguards set forth in 34 CFR, Part 300. As such, you receive
a copy of your procedural safeguards and parents’ rights annually at your child's IEP team
meeting, and they are also available on the Special Education page of the District’s website.
If you have questions regarding your rights you may contact the following sources:
Menifee Union School District Special Education Office
29775 Haun Road
Menifee, CA 92586
Director of Special Education - Lisa Hall, Ed.D.