SB1381 - State special schools: information.

Enrolled August 19, 2026 Passed IN Senate August 18, 2026 Passed IN Assembly August 13, 2026 Amended IN Assembly June 22, 2026 Amended IN Senate April 16, 2026 Amended IN Senate March 25, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1381 Introduced by Senator Cervantes February 20, 2026 An act to add Sections 48980.2 and 56040.7 to the Education Code, relating to special education. 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. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill Text 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.