Date: July 1, 2007
Dear New Nonpublic School Applicants:
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION OF A NEW NONPUBLIC, NONSECTARIAN SCHOOL (NPS)
The application forms and supplemental information are required by private schools who wish to apply for certification to serve individuals with exceptional needs under California Education Code (EC) Section 56366.1. New applications will be accepted throughout the year unless your school falls under the requirements of EC 56366.1 (k).
Applicants should be aware of the changes made to the nonpublic, nonsectarian school certification requirements as a result of the passage of Assembly Bill 1858 (Chapter 914, Statutes of 2004). While there are a number of new requirements, applicants should pay particular attention to the following items:
EC 56366.1 (b)(1) requires applicants to provide to the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) in which the applicant is located with the written notification of its intent to seek certification. A form is included in the application package to be used to transmit the application packet to the SELPA. Applications will not be accepted by the California Department of Education (CDE) without a signed verification that the SELPA has had the opportunity to provide input on all required components of the application.
EC 56366.1 (n) stipulates that only those nonpublic, nonsectarian agencies that provide special education and designated instruction and services utilizing staff that holds a certificate, permit, or other document equivalent to that which staff in a public school are required to hold in the service rendered are eligible to receive certification.
The New NPS Application packet consists of the following:
- Application Instructions
- Application Forms
- Required Supplemental Information
Applicants must complete and submit all application forms and required supplemental information in order to be considered for certification. Failure to do so could result in denial of the application.
It is strongly recommended that EC sections 56366.1 through 56366.12 and the California Code of Regulations , Title 5, Division 1, Chapter 3, Subchapter 1, Article 6, be reviewed for qualification standards required for nonpublic, nonsectarian schools. The regulations are available at http://www3.scoe.net/speced/laws_search/searchLaws.cfm (Outside source).
Completed applications (including a completed "Notification of Intent to Seek New Nonpublic, Nonsectarian School/Agency Certification" and the required certification fee) are to be sent to the following address:
Administrative Services Unit – NPS/A
Special Education Division
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 2401
Sacramento, CA 95814
Please retain a copy of your application for your files.
We wish you success in your work with students with disabilities. If you have any questions regarding nonpublic, nonsectarian school certification, please contact the Special Education Division at (916) 327-0141.
Sincerely,
Original signed by Mary Hudler. Hard copy of signed document is available by contacting the Administrative Services Unit at (916) 327-0141.
Mary Hudler, Director
Special Education
1430 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814