Approximately 7,500 students with special needs, from birth to 21 years of age, are served by the Special Services Division. These students receive services in Tulare County's 43 school districts and in special centers operated by the Tulare County Office of Education.

In Tulare County, all 43 school districts are part of the Tulare County/District Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). The Tulare County Office of Education houses the SELPA office and acts as the administrative head of the SELPA. The governance of the SELPA is vested in the Superintendent's Governance Committee composed of superintendents representing the 43 districts and by the Tulare County Superintendent of Schools, Tim Hire. For additional information visit the SELPA website.

The Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) operates programs to meet the full range of needs for mildly impaired to profoundly impaired students. Services can range from Related Services, which supplement regular classroom instruction, to Special Day Classes (SDC) for students who need a modified curriculum. When necessary, home or hospital instruction is available, as is residential private placement.

TCOE also operates the Bright Start Parent/Infant Program to serve children from birth to age 3 who have, or are at risk of having, disabilities.

In addition, TCOE provides educational services to at-risk students who attend Court and Community Schools and to incarcerated youth.

The Tulare County Office of Education provides special education services for students in the 34 small school districts and for developmentally impaired students throughout the county.