AB 1517: Special education: special education local plan areas: local plans.

(1)Existing law requires the governing board of each school district to adopt a local control and accountability plan, as provided. Existing law requires that certain things occur before a governing board of a school district considers the adoption of a local control and accountability plan or an annual update to the plan, including that the superintendent of the school district present the local control and accountability plan or annual update to the local control and accountability plan to the parent advisory committee, the English learner parent advisory committee, and the student advisory committee, as applicable, for review and comment, as provided.

This bill would also require, before a governing board of a school district considers the plan described above, the superintendent of each school district to consult with its special education local plan area administrator or administrators to determine which specific actions are needed to support outcomes on the California School Dashboard when the school district is determined to be in need of differentiated assistance for performance of pupils with disabilities. Because this bill would impose new duties on a superintendent of a school district, the bill would impose a state-mandated program.

(2)Existing law requires the county superintendent of schools to provide technical assistance for a minimum of 2 years for any school district for which one or more identified pupil subgroups meets specified criteria, including assisting the school district to identify its strengths and weaknesses, as provided.

When pupils with disabilities are the identified pupil subgroup meeting the criteria, this bill would require the county superintendent of schools to consult with and include its special education local plan area administrator or administrators as part of the expert technical assistance team. Because the bill would impose new duties on a county superintendent of schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated program.

(3)Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to develop a local plan relating to the education of individuals with exceptional needs residing in the school district, as provided. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish guidelines for the development of local plans, as provided. Existing law requires, commencing July 1, 2027, each local plan to include an annual assurances support plan. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to develop a template for the annual assurances support plan by July 1, 2026. Existing law requires the annual assurances support plan to include specified elements, including a description of how the governing board of the special education local plan area has determined that the special education local plan area will connect its participating agencies in need of technical assistance to the statewide system of support.

This bill would require the annual assurances support plan to include additional detail and new elements, as specified. To the extent these changes would impose new duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(4)Existing law requires each special education local plan area submitting a local plan to the Superintendent to ensure that it has in effect policies, procedures, and programs that are consistent with state laws, regulations, and policies governing specified things.

This bill would require each special education local plan area submitting a local plan to the Superintendent to also ensure that the plan provides technical assistance to its member local educational agencies to support monitoring activities as directed by the department, as provided. By requiring new duties of a special education local plan area, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(5)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.