CAC for Special Education

Community Advisory Committee for Special Education Link to this section

CAC MONTHLY UPDATE Link to this section

Hello CAC Community!

Happy Spring! April is recognized globally as World Autism Month, a time dedicated to increasing understanding, acceptance, and inclusion of people on the autism spectrum. This is a month to focus on honoring autistic identity, community, and lived experiences rather than focusing on deficits. It is a time to think about how we can all make our environments more sensory friendly, be more respectful of different communication styles, and recognize the value of neurodiversity in our society and our families. To learn more, check out this blog from an adult with autism Autism Awareness in Action: Moving from Awareness to True Acceptance and this letter from a mother of a child with autism: A Mother’s Perspective on Autism: Awareness, Acceptance, and Advocacy.

Speaking of celebrations, the CAC Advocate Worthy of Excellence Awards will be held on Thursday, April 23rd. This event celebrates and recognizes all those who go above and beyond to support our exceptional students. (Read below for more information.)

Thank you for your patience as we rescheduled the March Meeting on Golden Gate Regional Center Services. It has now been rescheduled for Thursday, April 30th in the usual hybrid format, both on Zoom and in-person at Support for Families. If you have ever wondered about how to get para support in after care or how you might access GGRC services for your school aged child - this is the meeting for you! (Register today!) If you missed previous meetings and are interested in watching the recording or viewing the slides, please visit the CAC meeting archives.

Read the rest of the monthly update here

2025-2026 CAC Updates- August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April

2024-2025 CAC Updates- August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June

2023-2024 CAC Updates - August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May

2022-2023 CAC Updates - September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May

2021-2022 CAC Updates - August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May June

UPCOMING CAC Meetings- AWE Awards & Rescheduled General Meeting with GGRC Link to this section

Golden Gate Regional Center

Presented by the SFUSD CAC

Date & Time: Thursday, April 30 from 6-8pm

Location: Hybrid, In-person at Support for Families, 832 Folsom St, Suite #1001 (10th Floor), Virtual on Zoom, Register here

Join the CAC at our monthly meeting to learn about Golden Gate Regional Center services. We will review a range of services such as personal care, respite care, and more!

Please help us spread the word by sharing our flyer!

CAC 2025-2026 Meeting Calendar | Español | 中文 | Tiếng Việt | عربي | Tagalog

Missed a meeting? Check out the CAC Meeting Archives to find minutes, presentation slides + more!

August 28, 2025 - Back to School - SFUSD Special Education Resources

September 25, 2025 - Special Day Classes in SFUSD

October 23, 2025 - Know Your Rights

November 20, 2025 - Community Cafe on Significant Disproportionality with AAPAC

December 8-12, 2025 - Inclusive Schools Week

January 22, 2026 - Community Conversation on SFUSD Budget + LCAP

February 26, 2026 - All About Behavior

March RESCHEDULED April 30, 2026 - Golden Gate Regional Center

April 23, 2026 - Advocates Worthy of Excellence Awards

May 28, 2026 - SFUSD SELPA Local Plan (Special Education Budget & Service Plan)

June 7, 2026 - CAC Community Picnic

PURPOSE OF THE CAC Link to this section

The purpose of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education is to champion effective special education programs and services and advise the Board of Education on priorities in the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA).

The State Education Code mandates that each SELPA have a CAC and that a majority of CAC members are parents of students with disabilities.

Joining the CAC gives community members an opportunity to have their opinions heard and make a difference in the way special education is conducted in our area. Find out more on the CAC membership page.

For more information about the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education read the article: Making Special Education Work for All Students by Disability Rights of CA or visit CACSpEdSF.com

Woman with brown hair sitting on the sidewalk with her arms folded over her knees

Students’ Reading Struggles Tied to Flawed Assessment. So Why Do Schools Use It?

"For six years, Kelley has been fighting to get her son, now 13, a proper education in how to read. And she has tried to convince the district to drop the test that missed his reading difficulties."

Image of a woman at a work table working on a large round wooden art piece ((Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

The Fine Art of Sheltering in Place by Denise Sullivan (Photo: Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner) May 10, 2020

In her role as vice-chair of the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education with the San Francisco Unified School District, Satinover advocates for gifted students and those who are dyslexic or diagnosed with ADD

Darryl Lester surrounding by 8 women posing for a picture in front of a presentation screen.

CA Association of School Psychologists, October 2019

On October 24th Lee Romney from KALW interviewed Darryl Lester (aka Larry P) about his experience in education in the 70s. In addition, several SFUSD parents participated in a parent panel on the experience of black families in special education. (The i

Panelists at the Learning While Black in SFUSD community forum. Picture by Joe R. Goyos/ Support for Families of Children with Disabilities

Learning While Black: Community Forum By Ben Trefny & Lee Romney, KALW • (Photo by Joe Goyos) March 23, 2019

Community members came together on Thursday, March 21, for a forum and roundtable discussion of what it takes to navigate San Francisco Unified School District’s Special Education system and to develop an action plan to support African American students

A blonde haired woman with glasses is reading to a little girl with brown hair and a pink backpack

Solving California's Early Literacy Crisis is a Social Justice Imperative

Megan Potente is co-state director for Decoding Dyslexia CA, a grassroots movement dedicated to improving literacy outcomes for those with dyslexia and all struggling readers.

Pictured in black and white are the 11 candidates for the 2024 Election for the Board of Education on a yellow background.

Special Education a focus as school board race nears finish

"Nine of the 11 candidates qualified for the ballot spoke Thursday at a town hall organized by the district Community Advisory Committee for Special Education. It took on additional significance following the resignation of the former Superintendent..."

This page was last updated on April 16, 2026