As required by the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), San Mateo Union High School District provides a continuum of services for students with disabilities. Some services for students with moderate/severe disabilities are provided in conjunction with the San Mateo County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) or with North County Mental Health. All programs are open to students in grades 9 to 12. Not all programs are provided at each campus; students are placed through the individualized Education Plan (IEP) process in the program that best meets their needs.

The services available at Burlingame High school are the Directed Studies Program, Specialized Academic Instruction (SAI), the Adult Transition Class (ATC), and the Applied Academic Curriculum (AAC). Students in Directed Studies may receive one or two periods in a Directed Studies class which supports their work in the mainstream. Some Directed Studies courses are specifically designed to provide targeted support in a particular content area to help participation in the general education setting. There are general Directed Studies courses also offered which help support students more broadly.  Specialized Academic Instruction serves students whose academic needs are best met through direct instruction from a special education teacher with a modified curriculum.  Adult Transition Class serves students between the ages of 18 and 22 years with moderate to severe cognitive challenges. These students receive instruction in vocational and independent living skills. The Applied Academic Curriculum Program serves students with a focus on building functional skills; students do not earn a high school diploma in the Applied Academic Curriculum program.  The class is designed for students who would benefit from a community-based no-diploma program emphasizing socially appropriate skills and behavior. Other related services offered at Burlingame High School are Speech and Language Services, Vocational Services, and Mental Health Services.