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Special Education Director's Official Letters

Official letters from the California Department of Education, State Director of Special Education providing program clarification on procedural and/or implementation issues.
Original Issue Date Topic Updated/Reissued Date
November 15, 2023 WorkAbility I 2023–24 On-Campus Business Guidance (Posted 15-Nov-2023) N/A
September 29, 2023 Important Changes in the Collection of Data for Students with Disabilities in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (Posted 03-Oct-2023) December 20, 2023
August 16, 2023 A New Pathway to a High School Diploma for Students with Disabilities (Updated 29-Mar-2024) March 29, 2024
June 13, 2023 Incident Data Collection from Nonpublic Nonsectarian Certified Schools in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (Posted 14-Jun-2023) N/A
January 24, 2023 WorkAbility I 2022–23 Program Guidance (Posted 24-Jan-2023) N/A
January 1, 2023 Office of Administrative Law Regulatory Action: Amendment of Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Section 3043 (Posted 03-Jan-2023)
 N/A
September 20, 2022 Workability I Grant Conditions Guidance (Posted September 20, 2022) N/A
August 23, 2022 Assembly Bill 181: Special Education and Independent Study (Posted 23-Aug-2022) N/A
March 23, 2022 Workability 2021–22 Program Guidance (Posted 23-Mar-2022) N/A
January 24, 2022 2022 Special Education Monitoring and Engagement with Local Educational Agencies (Posted 24-Jan-2022) N/A
June 1, 2021 Workability I Regional Meeting and Bank Account Guidance (Posted 15-Jun-2021) N/A
April 5, 2021 Workability I Regional Bank Account Guidance (Posted 06-Apr-2021) N/A
March 17, 2021 Workability I 2020–21 Program Guidance (Posted 06-Apr-2021) N/A
March 11, 2021 Independent Educational Evaluations (Posted 17-Mar-2021) N/A
February 11, 2021 Students with Disabilities and Face Coverings (Updated 27-May-2022) May 27, 2022
December 22, 2020 Coronavirus (COVID–19) and Special Education Dispute Resolution (Posted 22-Dec-2020) N/A
November 10, 2020 Electronic Student Records in Data Systems Used for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Monitoring (Posted 10-Nov-2020) N/A
July 15, 2020 2020 Budget Act and Special Education (Posted 27-Jul-2020) N/A
June 26, 2020 Guidance Regarding Regulations for Special Education Compliance Complaints (Posted 06-Jul-2020) N/A
March 13, 2020 Information Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Services to Students with Disabilities (Posted 16-Mar-2020) N/A
March 18, 2019 Access to Inclusive Early Learning and Care Programs for Students with Disabilities (Posted 19-Mar-2019) N/A
March 15, 2019 Out-of-State Nonpublic Agency Certification Requirements (Posted 19-Mar-2019) N/A
November 16, 2018 Identification of and Provision of Service to Eligible Students in Adult County Jails N/A
August 20, 2018 Anniversary of the California Dyslexia Guidelines Publication N/A
January 12, 2018 State Requirements Pertaining to the Use of Restraint and Seclusion as Behavioral Interventions N/A
March 27, 2014 Requirements for Personnel Involved in Behavioral Intervention N/A
March 14, 2014 Requirements for Behavioral Emergency Reports N/A
March 13, 2014 Local Educational Agency (LEA) and Individualized Education Program Team Responses to the Behavior of Students with Disabilities August 28, 2015
November 21, 2013 Repeal of Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Section 3052 N/A
September 5, 2013 Changes to State Requirements for Behavioral Intervention Plans N/A
August 14, 2013 Written Notification Requirement of Parental Rights Regarding the Use of Public Benefits or Insurance (Posted 21-Aug-2013) N/A
March 13, 2013 Assembly Bill 114: Documenting Coordinated Services (Bundled Services) In Individualized Education Programs to Comply With the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Requirements N/A
March 13, 2013 Assembly Bill 114: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Use of Insurance for Related Services N/A
July 26, 2012 Assembly Bill 114: Providing Coordinated Intensive Services through an Individual with Disabilities Education Act Compliant Individualized Education Program (DOC) September 20, 2012
July 16, 2012 Assembly Bill 114: Parent Survey Results N/A
June 28, 2012 Assembly Bill 114: Assessment Summary (DOC) March 21, 2014
June 27, 2012 Assembly Bill 114: Day Treatment September 21, 2012
December 27, 2011 Assembly Bill 114: Developing a System for the Provision of Related Services N/A
October 6, 2011 Assembly Bill 114: Options for Providing Related Services for Medi-Cal Eligible Students N/A
September 13, 2011 Assembly Bill 114: Available Funding Sources and Spending Parameters N/A
September 13, 2011 Assembly Bill 114: Medication Monitoring N/A
September 13, 2011 Assembly Bill 114: Nonpublic Agency Certification July 20, 2015
September 13, 2011 Assembly Bill 114: Related Services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act N/A
September 13, 2011 Requirements for Securing the Services of Mental Health Professionals to Provide Related Services to Special Education Students N/A
September 13, 2011 Assembly Bill 114: Residential Care for Students with Disabilities N/A
December 15, 2010

Update: Current Status of the Open Enrollment Act and Changes from the Emergency Regulations to the Final Regulations
[Note: The preceding letter is no longer valid. For current information, go to Educational Options, Open Enrollment (Updated 20-Dec-2011)].

 N/A
January 6, 2009

Parents’ Right To Revoke Consent

 N/A
June 11, 2008 Educational Interpreter Regulations N/A
January 28, 2008
[Note: the preceding original issue date is no longer valid.]		 Assisting Students with Disabilities Pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) by Providing Accommodations/Modifications and Special Education Supports and Services [Note: The preceding letter is no longer valid. Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans no longer have to pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) to receive a high school diploma or as a condition of graduating from high school. For additional information, go to CAHSEE (Updated 09-Nov-2010)] March 25 and November 06, 2009
[Note: the preceding Updated/Reissued Date is no longer valid.]
November 20, 2007
[Note: the preceding original issue date is no longer valid.]		 California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) Exemption [Note: The preceding letter is no longer valid. Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans are no longer required to pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) to receive a high school diploma or as a condition of graduating from high school. For additional information, go to CAHSEE (Updated 26-Jan-2011)] N/A
April 02, 2007 Senate Bill 1327: Reporting of Severance, Expulsion, Exclusion, Exemption, Transfer, or Suspension for Students with Disabilities N/A
October 11, 2006
[Note: the preceding original issue date is no longer valid.]		 California High School Exit Examination: Right of Students With Disabilities to Use Modifications [Note: The preceding letter is no longer valid. Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans are no longer required to pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) to receive a high school diploma or as a condition of graduating from high school. For additional information, go to CAHSEE (Updated 10-Mar-2010)] N/A
August 24, 2006 United States Department of Education Response to Report Card and Transcript Questions N/A
March 23, 2006
[Note: the preceding original issue date is no longer valid.]		 Certificate or Document of Educational Achievement or Completion for Students with Disabilities [Note: The preceding letter is no longer valid. Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans are no longer required to pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) to receive a high school diploma or as a condition of graduating from high school. For additional information, go to CAHSEE (Updated 17-Mar-2010)] May 15, 2009
[Note: the preceding Updated/Reissued Date is no longer valid.]
August 2, 2004 Update: LEAs’ Responsibilities for Ensuring the Continuous Delivery of Mental Health Services to Students with Disabilities

Due to the passage of Assembly Bill 114, updated guidance is available on the Assembly Bill 114 Special Education Transition web page.

August 2, 2004 Update: Ensuring the Continuous Delivery of Mental Health Services to Students with Disabilities Due to the passage of Assembly Bill 114, updated guidance is available on the Assembly Bill 114 Special Education Transition web page.
May 9, 2000
[Note: the preceding original issue date is no longer valid.]		 Practices For Working With Charter Schools And Children With Disabilities Attending The Charter Schools [Note: The preceding letter is no longer valid. For current information, go to Special Education Local Plan Area and Charter Schools Pilot Project Report (DOC), and Special Education Local Plan Area Regionalization Models (DOC; Updated 01-Mar-2011)] N/A
Questions:   Special Education Division | specedinfoshare@cde.ca.gov | 916-445-4613
Last Reviewed: Thursday, April 4, 2024
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