Ballou Education is a special education advocate in San Marino. IEP and 504 advocacy for families in San Marino Unified and the western San Gabriel Valley.
San Marino is one of the highest-performing districts in California. For a child with a disability, that reputation can become the obstacle: the district’s averages are so strong that an individual student’s struggle looks like an exception rather than a pattern.
San Marino Unified is small, with a tight special education staff and a limited continuum of programs. Families frequently face a choice between accepting a plan that does not fully fit and pursuing placement outside the district — a decision with real academic, social and financial consequences.
We help families make that decision with data. We review evaluations, observe how the current plan is working, and document what the district’s program can and cannot provide. That record is what makes a request for a different placement credible rather than aspirational.
For families who moved from abroad or from another state: the transition to a new system often reveals a learning difference that was previously accommodated outside school. We help families request an assessment early rather than waiting for the first difficult semester.
District programs, out-of-district options and non-public schools.
Explore placement helpA small, high-performing district serving San Marino from elementary through high school.
Neighboring districts with their own programs and special education teams.
Students enrolled privately may be eligible for assessment and a services plan through the district of residence.
We read the evaluations and progress data and identify what is missing.
We put requests and evidence in writing.
We attend the meeting and follow through.
No. Eligibility is based on whether a disability affects educational performance. A student who requires extensive support to maintain average scores may still qualify.
The district remains responsible for providing a free appropriate public education. If its own programs cannot meet your child’s needs, it may need to arrange placement elsewhere.
Submit a written request to the principal and the special education department, describe your concerns, and keep a dated copy. The district must respond.
Yes. We support SMUSD families with evaluation requests, IEP and 504 plan development, placement questions and disputes about services.
Districts sometimes point to strong averages when a parent raises a concern. Eligibility depends on the individual student, and outside testing plus classroom data is usually what changes the conversation.
Free consultation. We will help you understand what the district can and cannot provide.
