Section 56321 Of Article 2. Assessment From California Education Code >> Division 4. >> Title 2. >> Part 30. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 2.
56321
. (a) If an assessment for the development or revision of the
individualized education program is to be conducted, the parent or
guardian of the pupil shall be given, in writing, a proposed
assessment plan within 15 days of the referral for assessment not
counting days between the pupil's regular school sessions or terms or
days of school vacation in excess of five schooldays from the date
of receipt of the referral, unless the parent or guardian agrees, in
writing, to an extension. However, in any event, the assessment plan
shall be developed within 10 days after the commencement of the
subsequent regular school year or the pupil's regular school term as
determined by each district's school calendar for each pupil for whom
a referral has been made 10 days or less prior to the end of the
regular school year. In the case of pupil school vacations, the
15-day time shall recommence on the date that the pupil's regular
schooldays reconvene. A copy of the notice of a parent's or guardian'
s rights shall be attached to the assessment plan. A written
explanation of all the procedural safeguards under the federal
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et
seq.), and the rights and procedures contained in Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 56500), shall be included in the notice of a
parent's or guardian's rights, including information on the
procedures for requesting an informal meeting, prehearing mediation
conference, mediation conference, or due process hearing; the
timelines for completing each process; whether the process is
optional; and the type of representative who may be invited to
participate.
(b) The proposed assessment plan given to parents or guardians
shall meet all the following requirements:
(1) Be in language easily understood by the general public.
(2) Be provided in the native language of the parent or guardian
or other mode of communication used by the parent or guardian, unless
to do so is clearly not feasible.
(3) Explain the types of assessments to be conducted.
(4) State that no individualized education program will result
from the assessment without the consent of the parent.
(c) (1) The local educational agency proposing to conduct an
initial assessment to determine if the child qualifies as an
individual with exceptional needs shall make reasonable efforts to
obtain informed consent from the parent of the child before
conducting the assessment, in accordance with Section 1414(a)(1)(D)
of Title 20 of the United States Code.
(2) If the parent of the child does not provide consent for an
initial assessment, or the parent fails to respond to a request to
provide the consent, the local educational agency may, but is not
required to, pursue the initial assessment utilizing the procedures
described in Section 1415 of Title 20 of the United States Code and
in accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 56501
and subdivision (e) of Section 56506.
(3) In accordance with Section 300.300(a)(3)(ii) of Title 34 of
the Code of Federal Regulations, the local educational agency does
not violate its obligation under Section 300.111 and Sections 300.301
to 300.311, inclusive, of Title 34 of the Code of Federal
Regulations if it declines to pursue the assessment.
(4) The parent or guardian shall have at least 15 days from the
receipt of the proposed assessment plan to arrive at a decision. The
assessment may begin immediately upon receipt of the consent.
(d) Consent for initial assessment shall not be construed as
consent for initial placement or initial provision of special
education and related services to an individual with exceptional
needs, pursuant to Section 1414(a)(1)(D)(i)(I) of Title 20 of the
United States Code.
(e) In accordance with Section 300.300(d)(1) of Title 34 of the
Code of Federal Regulations, parental consent is not required before
reviewing existing data as part of an assessment or reassessment, or
before administering a test or other assessment that is administered
to all children, unless before administration of that test or
assessment, consent is required of the parents of all the children.
(f) Pursuant to Section 1414(a)(1)(E) of Title 20 of the United
States Code, the screening of a pupil by a teacher or specialist to
determine appropriate instructional strategies for curriculum
implementation shall not be considered to be an assessment for
eligibility for special education and related services.
(g) In accordance with Section 300.300(d)(5) of Title 34 of the
Code of Federal Regulations, to meet the reasonable efforts
requirement in subdivision (c), the local educational agency shall
document its attempts to obtain parental consent using the procedures
in subdivision (h) of Section 56341.5.