(a) (1) The Superintendent shall convene a workgroup on meeting the needs of pupils with disabilities who enroll in juvenile court schools operated by county offices of education.
(2) The workgroup shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of county offices education, school districts, charter schools, county probation, county behavioral health, special education local plan areas, regional centers, former pupils of county juvenile court schools and county community schools, staff from the appropriate fiscal subcommittees and policy committees of the Legislature, staff from the state board, and relevant state and national juvenile court school and federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) policy experts.
(3) The workgroup shall examine existing law and current practices regarding the education of pupils with disabilities enrolled in county juvenile court schools and county community schools and make recommendations on improvements regarding all the following, specific to the county juvenile court school setting:
(A) Child find procedures, as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
(B) Referral for, and provision of, timely evaluation, as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
(C) Timely transfer of pupil records to and from county juvenile court schools, including individualized education programs (IEPs).
(D) Provision of education and related services, as required by pupils’ IEPs.
(E) Provision of education in the least restrictive environment, as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
(F) Staffing of special education certificated and classified positions serving pupils with disabilities, including participation in state educator workforce initiatives.
(G) Implementation of Section 48645.7, transition planning required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and provision for alternate pathways to earn a diploma for pupils with disabilities.
(H) Family support and dispute prevention and resolution, as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and state law.
(I) Transition planning for pupils with disabilities moving to educational placements after leaving county juvenile court schools and county community day schools.
(J) Compliance monitoring of special education in county juvenile court schools and county community schools.
(K) Coordination and collaboration between county offices and other agencies, including, but not limited to, county probation departments, county courts, county child welfare agencies, county behavioral health care programs, and regional centers.
(4) To the extent practicable, the workgroup shall leverage the findings related to foster youth pursuant to Assembly Bill 2083 of the 2017–18 Regular Session.
(b) On or before February 25, 2025, the department shall submit a report with findings and recommendations regarding the topics identified in subdivision (a) to the relevant policy and budget committees of the Legislature, the state board, and the Department of Finance.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 194, Sec. 16. (SB 141) Effective September 13, 2023.)