Nonpublic Schools (NPS)

Nonpublic Schools (NPS) are private schools certified by the California Department of Education (CDE) to serve students with disabilities who cannot be appropriately educated in a public school setting. Placement in an NPS is made by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team and is based on the student’s individual needs and must be clearly documented in the IEP, including why less restrictive settings were not able to meet the student’s needs—even with added supports. In some cases, some students who experience significant emotional, behavioral, or academic challenges and are not making progress--despite the extra services--may need a more restrictive setting in the continuum of placement options such as an NPS.

Before a student is placed in an NPS, the IEP team must carefully consider all options and document their decision. Aside from an NPS, other consideration of placement options include a public school, private school, home, hospital, or residential setting. Schools are responsible for offering a full continuum of supports and placement options, from general education classrooms to more specialized environments. This ensures that each student receives the help they need in the most appropriate setting.

One key part of this system is a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). MTSS helps schools provide:

• Universal supports for all students
• Targeted supports for students who need extra help
• Intensive supports for students with the greatest needs

This approach makes it easier for schools to match the level of support to each student while keeping them in the least restrictive environment whenever possible.

Once the IEP team makes a decision, the school district completes the required referral forms and submits them to the SELPA office. The SELPA provides support by:

• Helping set up master contracts and agreements with NPS providers
• Ensuring appropriate rates and services are in place
• Monitoring and providing ongoing oversight to maintain compliance and quality
• Creating an Individual Services Agreement (ISA) for each student receiving NPS services

This process ensures that students receive the specialized support they need in the most appropriate and legally compliant setting. For more information on how referrals are made, please refer to our SELPA Referral Book.