AB 2526

Existing law establishes a public school financing system that requires state funding for county superintendents of schools, school districts, and charter schools to be calculated pursuant to a local control funding formula, as specified. Existing law requires funding pursuant to the local control funding formula to include, in addition to a base grant, supplemental and concentration grant add-ons that are based on the percentage of pupils who are English learners, foster youth, or eligible for free or reduced-price meals, as specified, served by the county superintendent of schools, school district, or charter school. Existing law requires local educational agencies, as defined, to identify, locate, and assess individuals with exceptional needs and to provide those pupils with a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, with special education and related services as reflected in an individualized education program. This bill would require funding pursuant to the local control funding formula to include, in addition to a base, supplemental, and concentration grant, a special education grant that is based on the percentage of pupils who are severely disabled, as defined, and served by the county superintendent of schools, school district, or charter school, as specified. The bill would require, under procedures and timeframes established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, county superintendents of schools, school districts, and charter schools to annually report the enrollment of pupils who are severely disabled and served by those local educational agencies to the Superintendent using the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System. The bill would require special education grant recipients to prioritize early interventions for pupils who are severely disabled. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill also would make conforming changes. 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.