Educational Services
The Yosemite Unified Educational Services Department strives to ensure that all students, regardless of socioeconomic, historical, and cultural background are offered the highest quality of education. Special Education, Student Services, Categoricals, Illuminate (assessments), English Language Learners and Title IX all fall under the umbrella of the Ed Services Department.
Special Education
The Yosemite Unified Special Education Department offers a variety of services and programs to students with disabilities throughout our schools. We also offer support to families, teachers, and staff. Our team is dedicated to meeting students’ diverse needs and ensuring they have access to an education that prepares them for the opportunities of the future.
Beth Kirkley
Special Education Director
What is Special Education?
As defined by the California Education code (section 56031), special education is:
Specifically designed instruction to meet the unique needs of individuals with exceptional needs, whose educational needs cannot be met with modification of the general instruction program; and Related Services that help individuals with special needs to benefit from specially designed instruction. Special Education is an integral part of the total public education system. Other features of Special Education are:
- Services are provided in a way that promotes maximum interaction between students with and without disabilities in a manner which is appropriate to the needs of both.
- Services are provided at no cost to parents
- Services include a full range of program options to meet the educational and service requirements of individuals with exceptional needs in the least restrictive environment (LRE). The LRE is generally the setting that is most similar to those attended by general education students.
Who is Eligible for Special Education Services?
Special Education is specialized instruction provided for children from birth to age 22 who qualify according to the laws and regulations outlined by the state and federal government. A student may qualify for special education services as an individual with special needs in one of thirteen areas identified by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004). These are:
- Autism
- Deaf-blindness
- Deafness
- Hearing impairment (hard of hearing)
- Intellectual disability
- Multiple disabilities
- Orthopedic impairment
- Other health impairment
- Severe emotional disability
- Specific learning disability
- Speech or language impairment
- Traumatic brain injury
- Visual impairment
For more information, please contact:
Beth Kirkley, Director of Special Education
Vicki Hamptoon, Secretary
Herenia Shepherd Sandra Luna
School Psychologist School Psychologist
Student & Community Services/Expanded Learning
The Yosemite Unified School District has been partnering with the Mountain Area Youth Organization (MY Club) to provide our students with an afterschool program at both the Coarsegold and Rivergold campuses since December of 2022. During these past two school years, there has been an overwhelming amount of interest in the program, and we have been able to expand the number on our rosters by increasing the MY Club staff at both locations.
If you are interested in having your child join the program this coming school year, please fill out a MY Club application. If you would rather apply in person, applications can also be found in our school offices. Once your child is a MY Club member, they are able to participate in all MY Club activities throughout the mountain community. Their Mountain Youth Clubs are open directly after school until 6:00pm during school days each day the campus is open.
MY Club offers many other community activities to their members throughout the year, which YUSD helps to provide. Take a look at some of what they have to offer:
- Sports Leagues
- MY Club Camps
- Summer Program - YUSD will be partnering with MY Club during the summer months to offer a Summer Program running Monday through Thursday from 8:00am - 5:00pm.
This summer, MY Club will be held at the Rivergold Elementary campus in Rooms 603/604/605 down in the lower portables. If you have an interest in having your child signed up to become a member of MY Club, please reach out to them directly using their MY Club website, or apply in person in one of our school offices. Your application will be routed to their staff and someone will contact you shortly thereafter.
Homeless/Foster Youth Liaisons
Presentations to the Board of Education
Plans
Plans PDFs
Local Control and Accountability Plan
Nondiscrimination/Harassment Policy
Title IX
Mandated Policies and Complaint Procedures
Mandated Policies and Complaint Procedures PDFs