CALPADS Update FLASH #167

To:           Local Educational Agency (LEA) Representatives

From:      California Department of Education (CDE) –
                California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) Team

Date:       Revised October 31, 2022 (This Flash was originally sent on December 13, 2019)

Subject:  CALPADS Update FLASH #167

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When to Use an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), Individualized Education Program (IEP), or an Individualized Service Plan (ISP)

This Flash provides further specificity to Flash 161 regarding which plan types students with disabilities (SWD) should have. Individuals:

• Birth to 35 months should have an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
• Ages 3 to 5 not in Kindergarten, should have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). LEAs should enroll students ages 3 to 5 not in Kindergarten who are attending a private school at the district level, with the Reporting LEA and School of Attendance fields populated on the Student Enrollment (SENR) file with the seven-digit county-district code.
• Ages 5 in Kindergarten to 22, attending a public school in grades K – grade 12, should have an IEP.
• Ages 5 in Kindergarten – 22, parentally-placed in a private school in grades K – grade 12, and receiving “equitable” special education services from a LEA, should have an Individualized Service Plan (ISP).

While it might seem logical for children ages 3 to 5 not in Kindergarten who are attending a private school, and who are receiving special education services from an LEA, to be on an ISP, as stated above, these students must be on an IEP. Federal guidance states that children, ages 3 to 5 not in Kindergarten, can be enrolled in a private school and considered parentally placed, enabling them to receive their proportionate share of funding under an Individualized Service Plan, but only IF the school is considered an elementary school that provides elementary education under state law. California does not have a definition of “elementary school.” This means that children, ages 3 to 5 not in Kindergarten, parentally-placed in a private school, cannot be on an ISP, and instead must be on an IEP and enrolled in a public school.  

How LEAs Should Report These Students

How should an LEA report to CALPADS, students, ages 3 to 5, who are enrolled in a private preschool, that is not a nonpublic nonsectarian certified school?

Students, ages 3 to 5, not in Kindergarten, attending private schools for preschool, that are not nonpublic nonsectarian certified schools, should have an IEP and should be reported in CALPADS at the district level. This means LEAs should submit the Student Enrollment (SENR) file, with the Reporting LEA and School of Attendance fields populated with the seven-digit county-district code, and the Enrollment Status field populated with code 10 – Primary. These students should not be enrolled in CALPADS in a private school (0000002).

How should an LEA report to CALPADS, students, ages 5 in Kindergarten to 22, who are enrolled in a private school, but who have an IEP as part of a settlement agreement?

Students, ages 5 in Kindergarten to 22, attending private schools, who are on an IEP as part of a settlement agreement should be reported in CALPADS at the district level. This means LEAs should submit the Student Enrollment (SENR) file, with the Reporting LEA and School of Attendance fields populated with the seven-digit county-district code, and the Enrollment Status field populated with code 10 – Primary. These students should not be enrolled in CALPADS in a private school (0000002).