Senate BillChaptered/SignedEducation
SB 1381: State special schools: information.
What SB 1381 does, verified September 29, 2026
<blockquote> <p>This bill adds sections to the education code requiring school districts to notify parents or guardians of pupils who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind about their option to attend state special schools. Starting in the 2027-28 school year, local educational agencies must provide information about these schools when developing, reviewing, or revising individualized education programs for eligible pupils. The bill mandates that the State Department of Education supply this information to local educational agencies by July 1, 2027.</p> </blockquote>
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
✓Second ChamberComplete
✓GovernorComplete
6ChapteredCurrent
Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 706, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-27)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions28 total · showing 5
| Sep. 27, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 706, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 27, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug. 21, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. |
| Aug. 18, 2026 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Aug. 13, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 6159.) Ordered to the Senate. |
Latest bill textChaptered version, September 27, 2026 · 741 words
Senate Bill No. 1381
CHAPTER 706
An act to add Sections 48980.2 and 56040.7 to the Education Code, relating to special education.
[ Approved by Governor September 27, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1381, Cervantes. State special schools: information.
Existing law establishes the California School for the Deaf, Northern California, the California School for the Deaf, Southern California, known collectively as the California School for the Deaf, and the California School for the Blind as the state special schools, under the administration of the State Department of Education.
Existing law requires the governing board of a school district, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of each school year, to notify parents or guardians of minor pupils of specified rights and responsibilities of the parent or guardian and of specified school district policies and procedures.
This bill would require the notification to a parent or guardian of a pupil who is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind to additionally include information regarding the option for the pupil to attend a state special school, as provided. Commencing with the 2027–28 school year, if a local educational agency develops, reviews, or revises an individualized education program for a pupil who is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind, the bill would require the individualized education program team of the local educational agency to provide the pupil’s parent, guardian, or educational rights holder with information about the state special schools and the option for the pupil to attend one of those schools, as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2027, to provide that information to local educational agencies. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies or local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 48980.2 is added to the Education Code, to read:48980.2.
The notification required pursuant to Section 48980 for the parent or guardian of a pupil who is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind shall include information regarding the option for the pupil to attend the California School for the Deaf pursuant to Section 59020 or to attend the California School for the Blind pursuant to Section 59120, as applicable. The information provided shall also state that this option is one of the placements available to the pupil and that the parent or guardian may request more information about additional placement options available to the pupil pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 56040.6.SEC. 2.
Section 56040.7 is added to the Education Code, to read:56040.7.
(a) Commencing with the 2027–28 school year, if a local educational agency develops, reviews, or revises an individualized education program for a pupil who is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind, the individualized education program team of the local educational agency shall provide the pupil’s parent, guardian, or educational rights holder with information about the California School for the Deaf or the California School for the Blind, as applicable, as provided by the department pursuant to subdivision (b) and the option for the pupil to attend one of those schools. The information provided shall also state that this option is one of the placements available to the pupil and that the parent or guardian may request more information about additional placement options available to the pupil pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 56040.6.(b) On or before July 1, 2027, the department shall provide local educational agencies with information about the California School for the Deaf and the California School for the Blind to be used pursuant to subdivision (a).
SEC. 3.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.Text of SB 1381 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions