(a) The cost of master contracts with nonpublic, nonsectarian schools and agencies that a special education local plan area enters into shall not include any of the following costs that a special education local plan area may incur:
(1) Administrative or indirect costs of the special education local plan area.
(2) Direct support costs for the special education local plan area.
(3) Transportation costs provided either directly, or through a nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency contract for use of services or equipment owned, leased, or contracted, by a special education local plan area for any pupils enrolled in nonpublic, nonsectarian schools or agencies, unless provided directly or subcontracted by that nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 56366.
(4) Costs for services routinely provided by the special education local plan area including the following, unless the board grants a waiver under Section 56101:
(A) School psychologist services other than those described in Sections 56324 and 56363 and included in a master contract and individual services agreement under subdivision (a) of Section 56366.
(B) School nurse services other than those described in Sections 49423.5, 56324, and 56363 and included in a master contract and individual services agreement under subdivision (a) of Section 56366.
(C) Language, speech, and hearing services other than those included in a master contract and individual services agreement under subdivision (a) of Section 56366.
(D) Modified, specialized, or adapted physical education services other than those included in a master contract and individual services agreement under subdivision (a) of Section 56366.
(E) Other services not specified by a pupil’s individualized education program or funded by the state on a caseload basis.
(5) Costs for nonspecial education programs or settings, including those provided for individuals with exceptional needs between the ages of birth and five years, inclusive, pursuant to Sections 56431 and 56441.8.
(6) Costs for nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency placements outside of the state unless the board has granted a waiver pursuant to subdivisions (e) and (f) of Section 56365.
(7) Costs for related nonpublic, nonsectarian school pupil assessments by a school psychologist or school nurse pursuant to Sections 56320 and 56324.
(8) Costs for services that the nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency is not certified to provide.
(9) Costs for services provided by personnel who do not meet the requirements specified in subdivision (l) of Section 56366.1.
(10) Costs for services provided by public school employees.
(b) A nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency shall not claim and is not entitled to receive reimbursement for attendance unless the site where the pupil is receiving special education or designated instruction and services is certified.
(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 854, Sec. 65. Effective January 1, 1998.)
(a) The department shall administer an extraordinary cost pool to protect special education local plan areas from the extraordinary costs associated with single placements as described in subdivision (d). Funds shall be appropriated for this purpose in the annual Budget Act. Special education local plan areas shall be eligible for reimbursement from this pool in accordance with this section.
(b) The threshold amount for claims under this section shall be the lesser of the following:
(1) (A) Through the 2019–20 fiscal year, one percent of the allocation calculated pursuant to Section 56836.08 for the special education local plan area for the current fiscal year for any special
education local plan area that meets the criteria in Section 56212.
(B) For the 2020–21 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, one percent of the allocation calculated pursuant to Section 56836.08 for the special education local plan area for the 2019–20 fiscal year for any special education local plan area that met the criteria in Section 56212 for the 2019–20 fiscal year.
(2) The department shall calculate the average cost of a nonpublic, nonsectarian school placement in the 1997–98 fiscal year. This amount shall be multiplied by 2.5, then by one plus the inflation factor computed pursuant to Section 42238.1, as that section read on January 1, 2013, to obtain the alternative threshold amount for claims in the 1998–99 fiscal year. For the 2021–22 fiscal year, the alternative threshold amount shall be the alternative threshold amount for the prior fiscal year multiplied by
one plus the inflation factor computed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 42238.02, and shall also include the inflation factor of 2.31 percent instead of zero as described in Section 56836.142 for the 2020–21 fiscal year. For the 2022–23 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter, the alternative threshold amount shall be the alternative threshold amount for the prior fiscal year multiplied by one plus the inflation factor computed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 42238.02.
(c) Special education local plan areas are eligible to submit claims for costs exceeding the threshold amount on forms developed by the department. All claims for a fiscal year shall be submitted by October 31 following the close of the fiscal year. If the total amount claimed by special education local plan areas exceeds the amount appropriated, the claims shall be prorated.
(d) Special education local plan areas are eligible to submit claims for the costs of nonpublic, nonsectarian school placements in excess of those in existence in the 1997–98 fiscal year and the costs of special education and related services for pupils who reside in licensed children’s institutions.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 38, Sec. 81. (SB 153) Effective June 29, 2024.)