The governing board of a district shall elect to do one of the following described in subdivision (a), (b), or (c):
(a) (1) If of sufficient size and scope, under standards adopted by the board, submit to the superintendent a local plan for the education of all individuals with exceptional needs residing in the district in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 56205).
(2) From July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2026, inclusive, the governing board of a district shall not submit a local plan for the education of all individuals with exceptional needs residing in the district under paragraph (1) for the purpose of creating a single district special education local plan area.
(b) In conjunction with one or more districts, submit to the superintendent a local plan for the education of individuals with exceptional needs residing in those districts in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 56205). The plan shall include, through joint powers agreements or other contractual agreements, all the following:
(1) Provision of a governance structure and any necessary administrative support to implement the plan.
(2) Establishment of a system for determining the responsibility of participating agencies for the education of each individual with exceptional needs residing in the special education local plan area.
(3) Designation of a responsible local agency or alternative administrative entity to perform functions such as the
receipt and distribution of funds, provision of administrative support, and coordination of the implementation of the plan. Any participating agency may perform any of these services required by the plan.
(c) Join with the county office, to submit to the superintendent a local plan in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 56205) to assure access to special education and services for all individuals with exceptional needs residing in the geographic area served by the plan. The county office shall coordinate the implementation of the plan, unless otherwise specified in the plan. The plan shall include, through contractual agreements, all of the following:
(1) Establishment of a system for determining the responsibility of participating agencies for the education of each individual with exceptional needs residing in the geographical area served by the plan.
(2) Designation of the county office, of a responsible local agency, or of any other administrative entity to perform functions such as the receipt and distribution of funds, provision of administrative support, and coordination of the implementation of the plan. Any participating agency may perform any of these services required by the plan.
(d) The service area covered by the local plan developed under subdivision (a), (b), or (c) shall be known as the special education local plan area.
(e) This section does not limit the authority of a county office and a district or group of districts to enter into contractual agreements for services relating to the education of individuals with exceptional needs. Except for instructional personnel service units serving infants, until a special education local plan area adopts a
revised local plan approved pursuant to Section 56836.03, the county office or district that reports a unit for funding shall be the agency that employs the personnel who staff the unit, unless the combined unit rate and support service ratio of the nonemploying agency is equal to or lower than that of the employing agency and both agencies agree that the nonemploying agency will report the unit for funding.
(f) A charter school that is deemed a local educational agency for purposes of special education pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 47640) of Chapter 6 of Part 26.8 shall participate in an approved local plan pursuant to subdivision (a), (b), or (c). A charter school may submit written policies and procedures to the department for approval by the board that establish compliance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), and implementing regulations, either individually, pursuant
to subdivision (a) or with other charter schools pursuant to subdivision (b). The board shall review these policies and procedures, based on the criteria established pursuant to Section 56100. Upon approval by the board, these written policies and procedures shall become the local plan.
(g) The requirements of this section shall not be waived by the board pursuant to Section 56101 or any other law.
(h) The Superintendent shall post all local plans submitted by each special education local plan area on the internet website of the department.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 48, Sec. 84. (SB 114) Effective July 10, 2023.)
In developing a local plan under Section 56195.1, each district shall do the following:
(a) Involve special and general teachers selected by their peers and parents selected by their peers in an active role.
(b) Cooperate with the county office and other districts in the geographic areas in planning its option under Section 56195.1 and each fiscal year, notify the department, impacted special education local plan areas, and participating county offices of its intent to elect an alternative option from those specified in Section 56195.1, at least one year before the proposed effective date of the implementation of the alternative plan.
(c) Cooperate with the county office to assure that the local plan is compatible with other local plans in the county, including the local control and accountability plans adopted for the district and the county board of education, and any county plan of a contiguous county.
(d) Submit to the county office for
review any local plan developed under subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 56195.1.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 32, Sec. 91. (AB 1808) Effective June 27, 2018.)
(a) Each county office and district governing board shall have authority over the programs it directly maintains, consistent with the local plan submitted pursuant to Section 56195.1. In counties with more than one special education local plan area for which the county office provides services, relevant provisions of contracts between the county office and its employees governing wages, hours, and working conditions shall supersede like provisions contained in a plan submitted under Section 56195.1.
(b) Any county office or district governing board may provide for the education of individual pupils in special education programs maintained by other districts or counties, and may include within the special education programs pupils who reside in other districts or counties. Section 46600 shall apply to interdistrict attendance agreements for programs conducted pursuant to this part.
(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 854, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 1998.)