The Santa Clara County Office of Education plans to eliminate eight special education classes serving preschoolers, medically fragile students, and other groups across six schools for the 2026-27 school year. Approximately 31 jobs will be cut, according to union leaders, though anonymous sources told San José Spotlight the number could be higher when other departments are included. The Board of Education votes in June when it adopts the 2026-27 budget, which means affected families still have a window to attend board meetings and push back before the cuts are finalized.

Office representatives said the layoffs aren't final and can be rescinded. Officials already reversed their decision to eliminate a deaf and hard of hearing class at Oster Elementary School in San Jose after advocacy from families and local school districts. That reversal proves the process is not over and that families showing up makes a difference.

What Classes Are at Risk

The eight classes set for elimination include programs for preschoolers and medically fragile students who require specialized care that typical classrooms can't provide. Preschool classes at Anne Darling Elementary School and Marlatt Early Learning Center are among those targeted for closure.

These programs serve children with the most significant needs: students who depend on specialized staff, equipment, and environments that don't exist in general education settings. Eliminating them doesn't just mean finding a new school. For many families, it means there's no comparable placement within a reasonable distance.

Why Enrollment Has Dropped

The county office of education cites declining enrollment as the reason for the cuts. Enrollment in special education programs has decreased in recent years, a trend officials say makes some classes financially unsustainable.

But lower enrollment doesn't mean the need has disappeared. Families still need these services. Enrollment patterns shift for many reasons, including families moving out of the county due to housing costs and demographic changes. What doesn't shift is the legal obligation to provide a free appropriate public education to every child with a disability, regardless of how many students fit into a specific program category.

What This Means for Families

If your child attends one of the eight programs slated for elimination, you'll receive notification from the county office of education. That notification should include information on where your child will be placed if the cuts move forward.

You don't have to accept the proposed placement. Under federal law, you can request an IEP meeting to discuss alternatives and ensure any new placement meets your child's needs as outlined in their current plan. You can also request an independent educational evaluation at the district's expense if you disagree with their assessment of what your child needs.

For families whose children aren't directly affected, the cuts will still have an impact. When classes close and students are redistributed, caseloads for remaining teachers increase. That means less individual attention, larger class sizes in already-crowded programs, and more pressure on staff who are already managing significant responsibilities. These ripple effects show up in service quality, even for students whose specific program wasn't eliminated.

What Families Can Do Before June

The Board of Education votes on the budget in June, including these cuts. Between now and then, families have three concrete ways to influence the outcome.

Attend board meetings in person. The Santa Clara County Board of Education meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the San Jose Room at the county office of education building. Public comment is only accepted in person; emails and written statements are read, but contemporaneous comments must be made face-to-face. Hundreds of teachers, parents, and students have already shown up to protest cuts at recent meetings. That presence matters.

Submit written comments before meetings. If you can't attend in person, email all board members at SCCBOEMembers@sccoe.org before the meeting. Include your child's name, the program they attend, and the specific impact these cuts will have on your family. Board members review written comments as part of their decision-making process, even if you're not in the room.

Organize with other families. The Oster Elementary reversal happened because families and school districts pushed back together. Connect with other parents in your child's program, reach out to your local school district's special education director, and ask them to advocate alongside you. Coordinated pressure from multiple stakeholders is harder to ignore than isolated complaints.

Board meetings in May and June will be the most critical. The budget adoption happens in June, which means the May meetings are when the board will discuss the cuts in detail before the final vote. Showing up to both gives you two chances to make your case.

Where to Find More Information

The full board meeting schedule and agendas are available on the county office of education's BoardDocs page. Agendas are posted at least 72 hours before each meeting, and you can see when the budget item will appear on the calendar.

For questions about your child's specific program or proposed placement, contact the Special Education Department at the Santa Clara County Office of Education directly. They can tell you whether your child's class is among the eight slated for closure and what the next steps are if it is.

If you need legal guidance on IEP rights or placement disputes, contact Disability Rights California or a local special education advocate. They provide free and low-cost services to families navigating disagreements with school districts and county offices.

The June vote isn't a done deal. Families who show up, speak up, and organize with others have already saved one program. There's still time to save more.