State special schools: information.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not clarify specific consequences for non-compliance by local educational agencies, nor does it detail exact costs or reimbursement procedures.

Information About Special Schools for Students with Disabilities

This law requires schools to inform parents and guardians about special state schools for students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind.

What This Bill Does

• Requires school districts to notify parents or guardians at the start of each school year that their child with disabilities can attend a special state school.
• Requires local educational agencies to provide information about special schools when creating, reviewing, or changing an individualized education program for students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind.
• Requires the State Department of Education to give this information to local educational agencies by July 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

• Parents and guardians of students with disabilities
• Local educational agencies

Terms To Know

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

A plan created for a student who needs special education services to help them learn.

State-mandated program

A program that the state government requires local agencies or officials to follow.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if local educational agencies do not provide the required information.
• It is unclear how much it will cost for local educational agencies to comply with these new requirements.
• The exact details of state reimbursement for mandated costs are not fully explained.

Official Summary Text

SB 1381, as amended, Cervantes.
State special schools: information.
Existing law establishes the California School for the Deaf, Northern California, the California School for the Deaf, Southern California, known collectively as the California School for the Deaf, and the California School for the Blind as the state special schools, under the administration of the State Department of Education.
Existing law requires the governing board of a school district, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of each school year, to notify parents or guardians of minor pupils of specified rights and responsibilities of the parent or guardian and of specified school district policies and procedures.
This bill would require the notification to a parent or guardian of a pupil who is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind to additionally include
information regarding the option for the pupil to attend a state special school, as provided. Commencing with the 2027–28 school year, if a local educational agency develops, reviews, or revises an individualized education program for a pupil who is deaf, hard of hearing,
blind, visually impaired,
or deaf-blind, the bill would require the individualized education program team of the local educational agency to provide the pupil’s parent, guardian, or educational rights holder with information about the
California School for the Deaf,
state special schools,
as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2027, to provide that information to local educational agencies. By imposing
additional duties on local educational agencies or local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated program.
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.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF