Policies and Initiatives
Federal and state legislation, laws, regulations, policies, commissions, and guidance.Advisory Commission on Special Education
California Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE)
The Who, What, Where, When, and Why of the Advisory Commission
Legislation
State
2026 Signed Legislation (coming soon)
Federal
Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004
Links to important references and resources on the Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Part B Regulations of the IDEA
(PDF)
Title 34, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 300
Implementation
Assembly Bill (AB) 560
Purpose of Assembly Bill 560, including relevant statute, webinar and meeting details, and related documents.
State Resources
Related to the Constitution, Laws, Regulations, and Legislation
SELPA Size And Scope
Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) size and scope standards as adopted by the State Board of Education at the November 17-18, 1983 meeting pursuant to California Education Code Section 56100(c).
Laws
California Law consists of 29 codes, covering various subject areas, the State Constitution and Statutes. To display the Table of Contents for a code, select a code and click Search. At this site one can find useful information including a Guide for Accessing California Legislative Information on the Internet
and much more.
Search California Constitution
California Code of Regulations, Title 9 and Title 22
The California Code of Regulations, Title 9 and Title 22 (Departments of Mental Health, Developmental Services, Health Services, Rehabilitation, Employment Development, Licensing of Community Care Facilities et al.) is maintained and updated quarterly by Office of Administrative Law.
California Special Education Reference
The California Special Education Reference is a database for searching state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to special education.
California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Division 1, Chapter 3
Access to the California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Division 1, Chapter 3, Individuals with Exceptional Needs, sections 3000-3100.
Legislative Information
State Government Home Page
Link to all the California State Government web sites.
Legislative Analyst Office (LAO)
The LAO provides fiscal and policy advice to the Legislature and nonpartisan analyses of the state's budget.
Federal Resources
Related to Federal Constitution, Legislation, Laws, Regulations, and Court Decisions
Current Laws, Regulations, and Court Decisions
Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (Updated 10-Apr-2023)
Links to important references and resources on the Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
United States Code, Title 20, Education of Individuals with Disabilities, sections 1400-1482
(PDF)
Search the United States Code
Contains the text of current public laws enacted by Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives Internet Law Library Web Site provides electronic access to special education related United States Code, 20 U.S.C. 1400-1486.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
Contains the text of public regulations issued by the agencies of the Federal government. Proposed regulations and regulations issued so recently that they are not yet in the CFR database, may be found in the Federal Register link on this site.
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR)
Provides administrative regulations that are essential to recipients' understanding of discretionary grants cooperative agreements.
Federal Court Decisions
Searchable database site of U.S. Supreme Court decisions, Federal Circuit Court opinions, and 9th Circuit Court decisions (which includes California).
Congressional & Legislative Information
A Guide to the U.S. Congress
Provides access to a complete and reliable directory of information about the members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and their respective committee assignments.
The White House
The home page of the White House contains useful Executive Branch information and Web links to "Commonly Requested Federal Services."
Special Education Related Resources & Information
Special Education Related National Publications
Limited free access to several publications. This is a commercial web site by LRP Publications.
U.S. Department of Education
Provides news, products and services, research documents, teacher guides, curricular resources and networking projects, and links to National Educational Associations and Organizations.
Federal Register
Provides a uniform system for the public to access regulations and legal notices issued by federal agencies plus a written discussion of proposed regulation and includes public comments, objections, and the federal agency's responses.
Guidance, Communications, Legislative Reports
Guidance
Equitable Services for Children with Disabilities
Equitable services provisions and proportionate share calculation are required for students aged 3-21, parentally placed in private school. Local Educational Agencies have an obligation to locate and evaluate all students within their boundaries.
Special Education Transportation Guidelines
Guidelines for use by Individualized Education Program (IEP) Teams when determining required transportation services.
Common Core Resources for Special Education
Resources and guidelines on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for the Special Education Community.
California Practitioners' Guide for Educating English Learners with Disabilities (PDF; 3MB)
A guide to identifying, assessing, supporting, and reclassifying English learners with disabilities as required by Assembly Bill 2785, Chapter 579, Statutes of 2016.
California Practitioners' Guide for Educating English Learners with Disabilities Long Descriptions
Long descriptions for complex figures that are included in the California Practitioners’ Guide for Educating English Learners with Disabilities.
Promotion, Retention, and Grading
Frequently asked questions from the field regarding the promotion, retention, and grading of students with disabilities.
Surrogate Parents in California Special Education: An Overview (PDF; 3MB; Posted 02-Apr-2019)
An overview of federal and state statutes and regulations for use as a reference to assist local educational agencies in developing and implementing procedures for parental representation as required by Government Code Section 7579.5(m).
Surrogate Parents in California Special Education Training Module (PPTX; Posted 24-Jun-2019)
The training module to assist local educational agencies in developing and implementing procedures for parental representation as required by Government Code Section 7579.5(m).
Communications
Official Letters from the California Department of Education, Special Education Division, State Director of Special Education
Provides program clarification on procedural and/or implementation issues.
Legislative Reports
Assembly Bill (AB) 130 Dispute Prevention and Dispute Resolution Apportionment Legislative Report (Posted 14-May-2024)
Legislative Report consisting of data from SELPAs regarding the $100 million apportionment distributed in October 2021.
AB 130 Section 161 Learning Recovery Apportionment Legislative Report (Posted 14-May-2024)
Assembly Bill (AB) 130 Section 161 Summary Report provides demographic and numerical data from special education local plan areas regarding the $450 million apportionment distributed in October 2021.
Ravenswood Budget Report (Posted 26-Jun-2017)
Report to the Legislature, Department of Finance, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
Individualized Education Program Report
Report required by the 2020 Budget Act and includes recommendations for improvements in special education and a statewide template for an individualized education program (IEP).
Senate Bill 75 Legistlative Report
Report to the Legislature and the Department of Finance.
Senate Bill 884 Legislative Report
Report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
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.
Pathways to a High School Diploma Legislative Report
Report required by the 2020 Budget Act and includes recommendations on the topic of special education and pathways to a high school diploma for students with disabilities.