CaliforniaSpecial education: resource specialists: special classes.
What it does
(1) 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. Existing law requires each special education local plan area to ensure that a continuum of program options is available to meet the needs of individuals with exceptional needs for special education and related services, as required by federal law. Existing law requires the continuum of program options to include, among other options, a resource specialist program, designated instruction and services, and special classes, as provided.
More detail
Existing law requires the resource specialist program to provide, among other things, monitoring of pupil progress on a regular basis, participation in the review and revision of individualized education programs, as appropriate, and referral of pupils who do not demonstrate appropriate progress to the individualized education program team. Existing law requires caseloads for resource specialists to be stated in specified local policies and in accordance with regulations established by the State Board of Education, and prohibits a resource specialist from having a caseload that exceeds 28 pupils.
This bill would require local educational agencies to take all reasonable steps to distribute the workload associated with initial assessments across all resource specialists employed by the local educational agency in an equal manner, unless otherwise collectively bargained. By imposing additional duties on local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(2) Existing law requires special classes that serve pupils with similar and more intensive educational needs to be available, and authorizes special classes to enroll pupils only when the nature or severity of the disability of the individual with exceptional needs is such that education in the regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services, including curriculum modification and behavioral support, cannot be achieved satisfactorily.
This bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction, on or before July 1, 2027, to recommend a maximum adult-to-pupil staffing ratio for those special classes, as provided, and to post the recommendation on the department's internet website. The bill would require the Superintendent to report their recommendations to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature and the state board on or before April 1, 2027, as specified.
(3) 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.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 10Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 560, Statutes of 2025.Latest
- Oct 10Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 16Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 9Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3108.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 560 Addis Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 8In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB560 Addis et al. By Cortese. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 8Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 2617.).Passed Senate
- Sep 2Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 29Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 29From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (August 29).Major
- Aug 18In committee: Referred to suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 9From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 30From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on ED.Major
- Jun 11Referred to Com. on ED.Minor
- Jun 3In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Jun 2Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1837.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 560 Addis Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 23From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 14In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.Minor
- May 1From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 30
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22Re-referred to Com. on ED.Minor
- Apr 21From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ED. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 25Re-referred to Com. on ED.Minor
- Mar 24From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ED. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 24Referred to Com. on ED.Minor
- Feb 13From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
- Feb 12Read first time. To print.Introduced