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Duarte Unified

Duarte, Los Angeles County, California
★★★★★ Not yet rated by parents
👨‍🎓 2,980 students 📋 699 students with IEPs 🗣️ 0 parent reports ☎️ (626)599-5000
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These are parent-submitted experiences about Duarte Unified as an institution, posted directly by parents. iep.tips is a neutral platform and does not verify these accounts — they are families' own statements and opinions, not verified facts or legal advice, and not a review of any individual employee. See something false or abusive? Use the Report link. Read our disclaimer.

No parent reports for Duarte Unified yet.

If you've navigated an IEP here, your story could be the roadmap another family needs. Share it »

🛟 How to fight for your child's IEP — and who to call

If Duarte Unified isn't giving your child the services they're legally owed, you have a clear, federally-protected path. Under IDEA these steps are the same everywhere — work them in order and put everything in writing.

Step 1

Request an IEP meeting — in writing

Email your child's case manager and the district's Director of Exceptional/Special Education. State the problem and the services you're requesting, and ask for a formal IEP-team meeting. Keep a copy of everything. District office: (626)599-5000.

Step 2

File a state complaint

If the district violated an IDEA rule in the last year, file a signed written complaint with your state's special-education dispute-resolution office (below). The state must investigate and issue a decision — usually within 60 days.

Step 3

Ask for mediation

Request free, voluntary mediation through the state — a neutral, trained mediator helps you and the district reach a written agreement. It's faster and less adversarial than a hearing.

Step 4

File for a due-process hearing

For serious disputes over identification, evaluation, placement, or FAPE, file for a due-process hearing — a formal legal proceeding. Consider getting an advocate or attorney first (see Protection & Advocacy below).

⚖️ Where to file & get free help in California

California Department of Education — Special-Education Dispute Resolution
File a state complaint (IDEA), request mediation, or a due-process hearing
· 🔗 visit site

File a written state complaint within 1 year of the violation, request free mediation, or file for a due-process hearing. Start here if the district is out of compliance.

Disability Rights California
Protection & Advocacy — free legal help for special-education & disability rights
☎️ 916-504-5800 · 🔗 visit site

Your state's federally-funded disability rights agency. Free information, advice, and sometimes legal representation for IEP and special-education disputes.

📚 Know-your-rights resources

Your legal footing: Under IDEA every eligible child is entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) and an IEP built to their needs. Section 504/ADA also bar disability discrimination.

• Parent Training & Information Center (PTI): free coaching for your state — find your center »

• CADRE (national dispute-resolution center): cadreworks.org »

• U.S. Dept. of Education OSEP (administers IDEA) & Office for Civil Rights for 504/ADA complaints.

Tip: bring a written list of requests to every meeting, ask for the district's response in writing, and never sign an IEP you don't agree with — you can consent to parts and dispute the rest.

💪 Not just your child? Use strength in numbers.

If other Duarte Unified families are hitting the same wall, it's a district problem — and numbers change the outcome. Send this page to your social-media contacts and Facebook parent groups, and ask other parents at drop-off and pickup: is this happening to you too? Gather the stories here so the pattern is documented. Once you can prove a bigger issue: wear matching-color shirts for solidarity, protest peacefully, pack school-board meetings, reach out to government officials, give interviews, and send press releases to the local newsrooms below to bring the media in.

See the full step-by-step » Organize an event »

📣 Take action for Duarte Unified

Systemic problems get fixed when they become public. Below is local press near this district and the officials responsible for Los Angeles County.

📰 Local newsrooms

Show within
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Local newspaper
2 mi
· 🔍 find “San Gabriel Valley Tribune” online
Pasadena Star-News
Local newspaper
10 mi
· 🔍 find “Pasadena Star-News” online
Whittier Daily News
Local newspaper
10 mi
· 🔍 find “Whittier Daily News” online
Los Angeles Times
Daily newspaper
17 mi
· 🔗 site
KCBS-TV (CBS)
CBS affiliate — TV
20 mi
· 🔗 site
KNBC (NBC)
NBC affiliate — TV
20 mi
· 🔗 site
KTLA (CW)
CW affiliate — TV
20 mi
· 🔗 site
KABC-TV (ABC)
ABC affiliate — TV
20 mi
· 🔗 site
KCAL-TV (Independent)
Independent — TV
20 mi
· 🔗 site
KTTV (FOX)
FOX affiliate — TV
20 mi
· 🔗 site
KCET (PBS)
PBS — TV
20 mi
· 🔍 find “KCET (PBS)” online
KMEX-DT (UNIVISION)
UNIVISION affiliate — TV
20 mi
· 🔗 site
KOCE-TV (PBS)
PBS — TV
20 mi
· 🔗 site
KVEA (TELEMUNDO)
TELEMUNDO affiliate — TV
20 mi
· 🔗 site
KLCS (PBS)
PBS — TV
20 mi
· 🔗 site
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Local newspaper
21 mi
· 🔍 find “Inland Valley Daily Bulletin” online
The Orange County Register
Daily newspaper
28 mi
· 🔗 site
Long Beach Press-Telegram
Local newspaper
28 mi
· 🔍 find “Long Beach Press-Telegram” online
The Daily Breeze
Local newspaper
29 mi
· 🔍 find “The Daily Breeze” online
Santa Monica Daily Press
Local newspaper
31 mi
· 🔍 find “Santa Monica Daily Press” online
The Press-Enterprise
Local newspaper
36 mi
· 🔍 find “The Press-Enterprise” online
Los Angeles Daily News
Local newspaper
36 mi
· 🔍 find “Los Angeles Daily News” online
Santa Clarita Valley Signal
Local newspaper
37 mi
· 🔍 find “Santa Clarita Valley Signal” online
The San Bernardino Sun
Local newspaper
39 mi
· 🔍 find “The San Bernardino Sun” online
Daily Press
Local newspaper
45 mi
· 🔍 find “Daily Press” online
Redlands Daily Facts
Local newspaper
46 mi
· 🔍 find “Redlands Daily Facts” online
Ventura County Star
Local newspaper
76 mi
· 🔍 find “Ventura County Star” online
KMIR-TV (NBC)
NBC affiliate — TV
85 mi
· 🔗 site
KESQ-TV (ABC)
ABC affiliate — TV
85 mi
· 🔗 site
The Desert Sun
Local newspaper
85 mi
· 🔍 find “The Desert Sun” online

🏛️ Officials for Los Angeles County

California Department of Education
State education agency — special-education oversight · CA
· 🔗 site
Office of the Governor of California Gavin Newsom
Governor · CA
· 🔗 site
U.S. Dept. of Education — Office for Civil Rights
Disability discrimination complaints (504/ADA) · National
✉️ OCR@ed.gov · ☎️ 1-800-421-3481 · 🔗 site
U.S. Dept. of Education — OSEP
Federal special-education oversight (IDEA) · National
✉️ OSEP@ed.gov · ☎️ 1-800-872-5327 · 🔗 site