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Local Education Agency (LEA) Grants

Program summaries and information on specific federal IDEA grants allocated to provide services to individuals with disabilities.
   

The California Department of Education (CDE) receives funding under three provisions of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  California's Legislature and Governor provide the guidelines for these funds through the annual Budget Act.  General questions about federal funds should be directed to Special Education Division (SED), Administrative Services Unit, at 916-322-6031. Questions related to a specific grant program should be directed to the Program Contact identified in the program summary.

Program information on specific federal IDEA grants allocated to provide services to individuals with disabilities is described below:  

IDEA, Part B, Section 611
IDEA, Part B, Section 619
IDEA, Part C
State (Proposition 98) Funded Grant Awards  
Other Resources
Local Assistance Entitlements (13379)

IDEA, Part B, federal funds are combined with local assistance state general funds to provide revenue to support the expense of educating identified students with disabilities. The state estimates total special education expenditures, deducts federal and property tax revenues, and allocates local assistance state funds for the remainder.

This grant is one portion of the federal subgrants to LEAs. The subgrants are based on a three-part formula: a base amount, a percentage of population, and a percentage of poverty. All Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPA)s receive a base amount of $323,428,031 statewide, divided by December 1999 pupil count. Of the funds in excess of the base amount, 85 percent are allocated on the basis of the relative number of children enrolled in public and private elementary and secondary schools within each SELPA's jurisdiction, and 15 percent on the basis of the relative number of children living in poverty using free and reduced price meal participation as the indicator of poverty. Adjustments to the base amount are required if a new SELPA is created, if one or more SELPAs are combined, or if SELPA geographical or administrative boundaries change. Districts must account for these funds as expenditures for pupils with an individualized education program (IEP) and for the provisions of the special education and related services required by students with disabilities in order to benefit from a public education.

This grant is allocated for students five - twenty-one years of age. Two other grants comprise of the total subgrants to LEAs: 1) State Institutions (13008), and 2) Preschool Local Entitlements (13682).

Program Contact: SED, Administrative Services Unit at 916-322-6031.

Preschool Local Entitlements (13682)

The federal Preschool Program Preschool Local Entitlement Instructional Programs provides funding for special education and services to children with disabilities for ages three-, four- and five-year old preschoolers. The funds available for this program come from the federal Part B, IDEA (Section 611 subgrants, to LEAs). For the method of calculation, see Local Assistance Entitlements (13379).

Program Contact: Chris Drouin at cdrouin@cde.ca.gov

State Institutions (13008)

All SELPAs, including state agencies, are required to have approved local plans. There is no separate funding for services provided by state agencies because of the merger of federal funds for special education students in state agencies from Public Law 89-313 (Chapter I) with IDEA (20 USC Section 1400 et seq.) Part B. The merger requires state agencies to have on file with the state education agency an application (a local plan) that meets the requirements under Part B. The State Board is authorized under Education Code Section 56100 to grant approvals of local plans. The affected state agencies are the State Special Schools, Division of Juvenile Justice, and Department of Developmental Services (DDS).  For the method of calculation, see Local Assistance Entitlements (13379).

Program Contact: SED, Administrative Services Unit at 916-322-6031.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (13007)

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) grants are funded through the IDEA, Part B.   The CDE finds that the ADR process is a desirable and effective practice that supports the positive interaction and collaboration among parents and educators and promotes in assisting parents and education agencies in the implementation of the use of conflict resolution throughout the state.

The CDE awards these grants to regional consortia that include LEAs and county offices. Selected LEAs will train and implement an ADR process in responding to and resolving local complaints and concerns regarding the implementation of the IDEA, Part B and relevant state laws. (See 2007-08 Budget Act, Item 6110-161-0890, Schedule 4, Provision 4)

Program Contact: Patricia Beck at pbeck@cde.ca.gov 

Focused Monitoring and Technical Assistance (13693)

The CDE is awarding grants to local educational agencies for the Quality Assurance and Focused Monitoring Program. The purpose is to continue the "facilitated" district activities consistent with the improvement of key performance indicators.   (See 2007-08 Budget Act, Item 6110-161-0890, Schedule 4, Provision 6)

Program Contact: Christine Pittman at cpittman@cde.ca.gov

Family Empowerment Centers (14301)

State and federal laws mandate active parent participation in securing special education services for children with disabilities. Many families whose children are over the age of three may not have access to the information, training and support they need in order to be effectively involved in their children's education. The California State Legislature passed and Governor Gray Davis signed Senate Bill 511, (Chapter 690, Statutes of 2001) as a remedy to this situation, establishing Family Empowerment Centers to provide families with information, training, and support.

The total 2007-08 grant amount of $2,644,000 is awarded to fourteen private, non-profit organizations.  Each grantee receives a base amount of $150,000, plus an additional amount based on their region's total school enrollment.

The fourteen Family Empowerment Centers provide services focusing on families whose children are from the ages of three - twenty-two, serve families of children with all disabilities and prepare families to partner with professionals in obtaining an appropriate education for children with disabilities.

The Family Empowerment Centers will bring to their regions information, training, and support to families whose children have disabilities. The centers will offer parents and guardians of children and young adults with disabilities access to accurate information, specialized training, and peer-to-peer support in their communities. Through these efforts, families will have a network to inform them, support them, and educate them to be full partners in their children's education and development. By building strong networks of support throughout their regions, the centers will help ensure that families have support from the time their children are first identified with disabilities through their transition to community life. (See 2007-08 Budget Act, Item 6110-161-0890, Schedule 7, Provision 7)

Please refer to the CDE Funding Results Web page for Family Empowerment Centers for specific program and grantee information.

Program Contact: Pamela Quiroz at pquiroz@cde.ca.gov

Mental Health Allocation Plan (14468)    

Pursuant to Senate Bill 1895, the mental health service grants are funded through IDEA, Part B. These funds must be used exclusively to support the mental health services for individuals with special needs that are required pursuant to an IEP and provided by county mental health agencies. They may be provided only for services that are consistent with the IDEA.

Each county office of education receiving these funds shall contract, on behalf of SELPAs in their county, with the county mental health agency to provide specified mental health services. This funding shall be considered offsetting revenues within the meaning of subdivision (e) of Section 17556 of the Government Code for any reimbursable mandated cost claim for provision of the mental health services provided in 2007-08. Amounts allocated to each county office of education shall reflect the share of the $69,000,000 in federal special education funds provided to that county in 2004-05 for mental health services provided pursuant to Chapter 26.5 (commencing with Section 7570) of Division 7 of the Government Code. (See 2007-08 Budget Act, Item 6110-161-0890, Schedule 4, Provision 9).

Please refer to the CDE Funding Profile Web page for Mental Health Services to Special Education Students for specific program and grantee information.

Program Contact: Shane Berli at sberli@cde.ca.gov

Federal Preschool Program (13430)

The federal Preschool Program Instructional Programs provides funding for special education and services to children with disabilities ages three - five. This funding comes from IDEA, Part B, Section 619.

Program Contact: Chris Drouin at cdrouin@cde.ca.gov  

Preschool Staff Development (13431)

Preschool Staff Development Funds provide for local staff development opportunities for those who work in infant and preschool programs. The funds are disseminated on a pro-rata basis based on the prior year December pupil count, ages three - four. The minimum grant per SELPA is $1,000. The source of funds is the federal Preschool Grant (Section 619 of Part B, IDEA).

Program Contact: Chris Drouin at cdrouin@cde.ca.gov

Early Intervention - Part C (23761)

In 1986, the federal government enacted Public Law 99-457, which authorized grants to states to plan and implement a comprehensive, community-based interagency system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The lead agency for Part C of IDEA is the DDS. State legislation (The California Early Intervention Services Act - Government Code Sections 95000 et. seq.) enabled California to participate in the Part C program and created a statewide mandate for LEAs) to serve all infants and toddlers with solely low incidence disabilities. It also required changes in procedures and services for all infants served by LEAs. The CDE receives funds from the DDS for local assistance through an interagency agreement to address the cost impacts experienced by LEAs in implementing the new federal and state requirements. The SED grants funds to each SELPA based on their specific cost impacts. Allocations are based on an Interagency Agreement with the DDS and the CDE. The SED administers these funds through formula grants:

  1. Cost impacts are computed for SELPAs in four areas:
    1. Number of additional children with low incidence conditions to be served
    2. Additional required services
    3. Additional required procedures
    4. Regional services and administration
  2. SELPAs provide budget information and justification to CDE; SELPAs also submit one interim expenditure report and a final expenditure report. Based on projected expenditures, and verification of the appropriateness of projected costs, SELPA grant awards are amended.

Program Contact: Darlene Helbling at dhelblin@cde.ca.gov

Workability I Vocational Education Project (23011)

These funds shall be available for the purposes of vocational training and job placement for special education pupils through Project Workability I pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 56470) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 30 of the Education Code. As a condition of receiving these funds, each local educational agency shall certify that the amount of nonfederal resources, exclusive of funds received pursuant to this provision, devoted to the provision of vocational education for special education pupils shall be maintained at or above the level provided in the 1984-85 fiscal year. The SSPI may waive this requirement for local educational agencies that demonstrate that the requirement would impose a severe hardship.

Program Contact: Christine Pittman at cpittman@cde.ca.gov  

Infant Discretionary Funds (24462)   

These funds are established in Education Code Section 56427 for direct early education services for infants who have disabilities. In the past, these funds were used to offset shortfalls in the growth appropriation for infants. With the implementation of the Early Intervention Program (Part C), CDE reserved those funds to address unanticipated direct service impacts of transitioning to the new Part C program.

Program Contact: Chris Drouin at cdrouin@cde.ca.gov

WorkAbility I LEA Project (24463)  

WorkAbility I LEA serves secondary and middle school special education students. Grant Awards are for the purpose of providing special education students comprehensive pre-employment services, employment training, work-site training, and follow-up services.

WorkAbility I LEA grant awards are formula-driven, competitive grants to LEAs, which include counties, districts, non-public schools, State Special Schools, and the California Youth Authority. In 1986, the commitment of the state to serve special education students via the WorkAbility I program was reaffirmed when the California Legislature passed AB 2386 and enacted Education Code 56470-56476 in support of WorkAbility and Transition services.

Allocations are based on number of students served, plus a $15,000 base and an additional $50 per student with severe disabilities.

Program Contact: Christine Pittman at cpittman@cde.ca.gov

Low Incidence Entitlements (24464)

Low Incidence Entitlement funds provide specialized services for disabilities as defined in Education Code Section 56026.5 which defines a low incidence disability as a severe disabling condition with an expected incidence rate of less than one percent of the total statewide enrollment in kindergarten through grade twelve.   Severe disabling conditions are hearing impairments, vision impairments, and severe orthopedic impairments, or any combination thereof.   Vision impairments do not include disabilities within the function of vision specified in Section 56338.

SELPAs with 26 or more pupils with low incidence (LI) disabilities receive a "base" grant of $5,000. SELPAs with 25 or less LI students receive a "base" grant of $2,000. In addition to the base grant, SELPAs receive a per pupil amount determined by dividing the funds allocated in the Budget Act by the total number of students in the state.

Annually, a 10 percent reserve of the Budget Act allocation is set aside for sparse SELPAs which serve 25 or less low incidence students to address unmet needs for specialized services. These funds are distributed through a process that is outlined in the application packet.

2007-08 Program guidelines and legal requirements (Revised 29-Apr-2008; DOC; 126KB; 12pp.)
2007-08 Allocations for books, materials, equipment, and services (Removed for revision 13-Mar-2008)

Program Contact: Linda Wyatt at lwyatt@cde.ca.gov

Personnel Development for Special Education Local Areas (24722)

The 2005-06 Budget Act shifted the funding for personnel development from IDEA funds to state Proposition 98 general funds. The funds shall be allocated directly to special education local plan areas for a personnel development program that meets the highly qualified teacher requirements and ensures that all personnel necessary to carry out this part are appropriately and adequately prepared, subject to the requirements of paragraph (14) of subdivision (a) of Section 612 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA), and Section 2122 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The local in-service programs shall include a parent training component and may include a staff training component, and may include a special education teacher component for special education service personnel and paraprofessionals, consistent with state certification and licensing requirements. Use of these funds shall be described in the local plans. These funds may be used to provide training in alternative dispute resolution and the local mediation of disputes. All programs are to include evaluation components. (See Budget Item 6110-161-0001, Schedule 1, Provision 22)

The prior year's December pupil count is used for this calculation. Allocation is based on number of students, ages six through twenty-one years, identified on an IEP.

Program Contact: Janet Canning at jcanning@cde.ca.gov

       
Questions: Special Education Division, Administrative Services Unit | 916- 322-1323  
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