ARTICLE 4. Special Education Funding [47640 - 47647]
( Article 4 added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 78, Sec. 32.8. )
For the purposes of this article, “local educational agency” means a school district as defined in Section 41302.5 or a charter school that is deemed a local educational agency pursuant to Section 47641. As used in this article, “local educational agency” also means a charter school that is responsible for complying with all provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) and implementing regulations as they relate to local educational agencies.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 78, Sec. 32.8. Effective July 7, 1999.)
(a) A charter school that includes in its petition for establishment or renewal, or that otherwise provides, verifiable, written assurances that the charter school will participate as a local educational agency in a special education plan approved by the State Board of Education shall be deemed a local educational agency for the purposes of compliance with federal law (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) and for eligibility for federal and state special education funds. A charter school that is deemed a local educational agency for the purposes of special education pursuant to this article shall be permitted to participate in an approved special education local plan that is consistent with subdivision (a), (b), or (c) of Section 56195.1.
(b) A charter school that was granted a charter by a local educational agency that does not comply with subdivision (a) may not be deemed a local educational agency pursuant to this article, but shall be deemed a public school of the local educational agency that granted the charter.
(c) A charter school that has been granted a charter by the State Board of Education, and for which the board has delegated its supervisorial and oversight responsibilities pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (k) of Section 47605, and does not comply with subdivision (a), shall be deemed a public school of the local educational agency to which the board has delegated its supervisorial and oversight responsibilities.
(d) A charter school that has been granted a charter by the State Board of Education, and for which the board has not delegated its supervisorial and oversight responsibilities pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (k) of Section 47605, may not be deemed a local educational agency unless the charter school complies with subdivision (a).
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 78, Sec. 32.8. Effective July 7, 1999.)
Notwithstanding Section 47651, all state and federal funding for special education apportioned on behalf of pupils enrolled in a charter school shall be included in the allocation plan adopted pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 56195.7 or Section 56836.05, or both, by the special education local plan area that includes the charter school.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 646, Sec. 23.4. Effective January 1, 2000. Applicable from July 1, 1999, by Sec. 47 of Ch. 646.)
If the approval of a petition for a charter school requires a change to the allocation plan developed pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 56195.7 or Section 56836.05, the change shall be adopted pursuant to the policymaking process of the special education local plan area.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 78, Sec. 32.8. Effective July 7, 1999.)
For each charter school deemed a local educational agency for the purposes of special education, an amount equal to the amount computed pursuant to Section 56836.148 for the special education local plan area in which the charter school is included shall be apportioned by the Superintendent pursuant to the local allocation plan developed pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 56195.7 or Section 56836.05, or both.
(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 24, Sec. 51. (SB 98) Effective June 29, 2020.)
An agency reviewing a request by a charter school to participate as a local educational agency in a special education local plan area may not treat the charter school differently from the manner in which it treats a similar request made by a school district. In reviewing and approving a request by a charter school to participate as a local educational agency in a special education local plan area, a local or state agency shall ensure all of the following:
(a) The special education local plan area complies with Section 56140.
(b) The charter school participates in state and federal funding for special education and the allocation plan developed pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 56195.7 or Section 56836.05 in the same manner as other local educational agencies of the special education local plan area.
(c) The charter school participates in governance of the special education local plan area and benefits from services provided throughout the special education local plan area, in the same manner as other local educational agencies of the special education local plan area.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 78, Sec. 32.8. Effective July 7, 1999.)
(a) A charter school that is deemed to be a public school of the local educational agency that granted the charter for purposes of special education shall participate in state and federal funding for special education in the same manner as any other public school of that local educational agency. A child with disabilities attending the charter school shall receive special education instruction or designated instruction and services, or both, in the same manner as a child with disabilities who attends another public school of that local educational agency. The agency that granted the charter shall ensure that all children with disabilities enrolled in the charter school receive special education and designated instruction and services in a manner that is consistent with their individualized education program and is in compliance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) and implementing regulations, including Section 300.209 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(b) In administering the local operation of special education pursuant to the local plan established pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 56205) of Part 30, in which the local educational agency that granted the charter participates, the local educational agency that granted the charter shall ensure that each charter school that is deemed a public school for purposes of special education receives an equitable share of special education funding and services consisting of either, or both, of the following:
(1) State and federal funding provided to support special education instruction or designated instruction and services, or both, provided or procured by the charter school that serves pupils enrolled in and attending the charter school. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a charter school may report average daily attendance to accommodate eligible pupils who require extended year services as part of an individualized education program.
(2) Any necessary special education services, including administrative and support services and itinerant services, that are provided by the local educational agency on behalf of pupils with disabilities enrolled in the charter school.
(c) In administering the local operation of special education pursuant to the local plan established pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 56205) of Part 30, in which the local educational agency that granted the charter participates, the local educational agency that granted the charter shall ensure that each charter school that is deemed a public school for purposes of special education also contributes an equitable share of its charter school block grant funding to support districtwide special education instruction and services, including, but not limited to, special education instruction and services for pupils with disabilities enrolled in the charter school.
(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 56, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2008.)
A local educational agency reviewing a petition for the establishment or renewal of a charter school may not refuse to grant the petition solely because the charter might enroll pupils with disabilities who reside in a special education local plan area other than the special education local plan area that includes the local educational agency reviewing the petition.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 78, Sec. 32.8. Effective July 7, 1999.)