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Special Education
California provided special education services to 683,178 individuals, newborn through
twenty-two years of age, in 2005-06. California provides specially designed instruction,
at no cost to the parent, to meet the unique needs of each child with a disability. This
instruction is provided in a variety of settings that allow infants and their families,
preschoolers, students, and young adults to be educated with their peers as much as
possible; that is, in the least restrictive environment (LRE). Special education services
are available in a variety of settings that might include day care settings, preschool, a
regular classroom, a classroom that emphasizes specially designed instruction, the
community, and the work environment. The California Department of Education (CDE)
works with colleges and universities to deliver staff development and training to ensure
that teachers and other service providers are qualified to work with children with
disabilities.
The CDE provides state leadership and policy direction for school district programs and
services for students who have a disability. This leadership includes providing families
with information on the education of a child with a disability. The CDE works
cooperatively with other state agencies in providing family-centered services for infants
and preschool children and planned steps for transition from high school to employment
and quality adult life. These efforts are supported by evaluation of student outcomes
and analysis of current research. The CDE responds to consumer complaints and
administers the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the No Child Left
Behind Act for students with disabilities in California.
The 13 disability categories and enrollment breakdown in California for individuals,
newborns through twenty-two years of age, receiving special education services are
(1) Mental Retardation, 44,263; (2) Speech or Language Impairment, 176,265;
(3) Visual Impairment, 4,798; (4) Emotional Disturbance, 27,912; (5) Orthopedic
Impairment, 15,321; (6) Other Health Impairment, 35,650; (7) Specific Learning
Disability, 328,381; (8) Deafness, 4,462; (9) Hard of Hearing, 7,608; (10) Deaf-
Blindness, 266; (11) Multiple Disabilities, 5,926; (12) Autism, 29,370; and
(13) Traumatic Brain Injury, 1,747.
Advisory Commission on Special Education
An Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) is mandated by both state and
federal laws. The ACSE is required to study, assist, and provide recommendations at
least annually to the Governor, the Legislature, the State Board of Education, and the
State Superintendent of Public Instruction on issues related to the education and unmet
needs of individuals with disabilities. There are 15 public members of ACSE, who are
appointed as follows: three by the Speaker of the Assembly; three by the Senate
Committee on Rules; four by the Governor; and five by the State Board of Education. In
addition ACSE includes two members from the State Legislature, one from the
Assembly and one from the Senate.
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