Ballou Education is a special education advocate in California families trust to navigate the IEP and 504 plan process with confidence. We work across Greater Los Angeles, including Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Encino, Sherman Oaks, La Cañada Flintridge, and San Marino, helping parents understand their child’s rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the California Education Code, and building collaborative relationships with the school teams that serve their children.

Families we support in California attend public, private, and independent schools throughout Greater Los Angeles and surrounding communities. We regularly work with families navigating districts including Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD), Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD), Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD), Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD), Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD), La Cañada Unified School District (LCUSD), and San Marino Unified School District (SMUSD), among others. Because school district boundaries do not always align with neighborhood or city names, we confirm the appropriate school and district as part of understanding each family’s situation.

California’s assessment timelines, triennial review rules, and dispute-resolution options — including mediation, due process, and compliance complaints through the California Department of Education — differ from other states, and so does each district’s practice. Whether you need help preparing for an IEP meeting, reviewing an assessment plan or psychoeducational report, requesting a 504 plan, pushing back on a reduction of services, or resolving a disagreement with your district, we come alongside you with more than 32 years of hands-on advocacy experience.

Every family’s situation looks different, whether it’s a first-time assessment request, a 504 plan that isn’t being implemented consistently in the classroom, or an IEP that needs updated goals as your child grows. We meet California families where they are, confirm the right district contacts from the start, and build a plan around what your child specifically needs — not a generic template.

How We Help California Families

• Confirming which school district serves your address before requesting an assessment

• Preparing for and attending IEP or 504 meetings with California school teams

• Reviewing assessment results and explaining what they mean in plain language

• Drafting written requests for assessments, services, or plan changes

• Identifying gaps between what an IEP requires and what’s actually happening in the classroom

• Guiding families through disagreements with the school team, informally and formally

California Locations We Serve

We maintain a dedicated page for each California community we serve, with the local school district details, key contacts, and how we can help your family. Choose your city below.