SELPA is an acronym for Special Education Local Plan Area. A SELPA is a membership of school districts, charter schools, and County Offices of Education who provide special education and related services to students with disabilities.

Similar to School Districts, SELPA's provide local control and accountability, but with a sufficient size and scope to provide all of the special education assurances.   

The California Department of Education has a web page that helps describe SELPAs. Also, the Legislative Analyst's Office has a quick video that can help explain a SELPA.

The Legislative Analyst's Office has other short videos and information pertaining to special education in California:

http://www.lao.ca.gov/Videos/Player?playlistId=107
http://www.lao.ca.gov/reports/2013/edu/special-ed-primer/special-ed-primer-010313.aspx 
http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/as/caselpas.asp 

The Fresno County SELPA provides (1) Compliance and Monitoring, (2) Professional Development, (3) Allocation of Special Education Funds, (4) Program and Fiscal Reporting, (5) Data Collection, and the (6) Ongoing Review of Programs. See our full list of services.