Governance and Accountability Policy Study - Legislative Report
This legislative report was required by the 2020 Budget Act and includes a study of governance and accountability policy in special education.California Department of Education
Report to the Chairs of the Relevant Policy Committees and Budget Subcommittees of the Legislature, the Executive Director of the State Board of Education or Their Designee, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Director of Finance
Executive Summary
California Senate Bill 74, Budget Act of 2020, required the California Department of Education (CDE) to commission a study to examine the state’s current governance and accountability structures that support California students with an individualized education program (IEP). The study was intended to focus on the end goals of improved outcomes for students with an IEP and increasing special education services provided in the least restrictive environment.
For this study, governance is defined as education decision-making authority, along with the structures, policies, and tools through which an entity communicates its decisions and assigns authority and responsibility to other levels of the education system. Accountability is defined as education oversight — including structures, policies, and tools — created and implemented at federal, state, and local levels to evaluate and ensure compliance with legal requirements and to encourage implementation of recommended actions and best practices for improvement, all for the purpose of meeting established goals.
If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact the Special Education Division by email at SPI@cde.ca.gov.
You will find this report on the California Department of Education Special Education Division web page.
Governance and Accountability Policy Study (PDF; 8MB)