2005 California Education Code Sections 56600-56606 CHAPTER 6. EVALUATION, AUDITS, AND INFORMATION

56600.  It is the intent of the Legislature to provide for ongoing
comprehensive evaluation of special education programs authorized by
this part and to support the purposes of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), pursuant to
subsection (d) of Section 1400 of Title 20 of the United States
Code.
56600.6.  The superintendent shall ensure that pupil and program
performance results are monitored at the state and local levels in
order to comply with paragraph (16) of subsection (a) of Section 1412
of Title 20 of the United States Code by evaluating pupil
performance against key performance indicators.   As necessary, other
data may be collected to support the state's participation in
national studies and evaluations described in subsection (a) of
Section 1474 of Title 20 of the United States Code.
56601.  (a) Each special education local plan area shall submit to
the superintendent at least annually information, in a form and
manner prescribed by the superintendent and developed in consultation
with the special education local plan areas, in order for the
superintendent to carry out the evaluation responsibilities pursuant
to Section 56602.  This information shall include other statistical
data, program information, and fiscal information that the
superintendent may require.  The superintendent shall use this
information to answer questions from the Legislature and other state
and federal agencies on program, policy, and fiscal issues of
statewide interest.
   (b) In order to assist the state in evaluating the effectiveness
of special education programs, including transition and work
experience programs, the superintendent is authorized to collect and
utilize social security numbers of individuals with exceptional needs
as pupil identification numbers beginning in the 1993-94 fiscal year
and phased in over a two-year period.  In a situation where a social
security number is not available, the superintendent shall assign
another student identification number for purposes of evaluating
special education programs and related services.  The superintendent
shall not disclose personally identifiable, individual pupil records
to any person, institution, agency, or organization except as
authorized by Section 1232g of Title 20 of the United States Code and
Part 99 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
56601.5.  Pursuant to paragraph (6) of subsection (a) of Section
1413 of Title 20 of the United States Code and  Sections 300.138,
300.139, and 300.240 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
each special education local plan area shall annually report to the
superintendent the number of pupils receiving special education
services participating in the regular school and district assessments
and the number participating in an alternate assessment process.
56602.  Pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (16) of subsection
(a) of Section 1412 of Title 20 of the United States Code and
Section 80.40 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the
superintendent shall submit to the board, the Legislature, and the
Governor, a biennial performance report of the special education
programs implemented under this part.
56604.  (a) The superintendent shall coordinate the design of
evaluations to prevent duplication and to minimize data collection
and reporting requirements at the school and district levels.
   (b) The State Department of Education shall utilize sampling
procedures whenever feasible.
56605.  The superintendent shall periodically sponsor or conduct
workshops and seminars for the education of local education agency
personnel assigned to, and responsible for, the evaluation of local
special education programs.
56606.  The superintendent shall provide for onsite program and
fiscal reviews of the implementation of plans approved under this
part.  In performing the reviews and audits, the superintendent may
utilize the services of persons outside of the department chosen for
their knowledge of special education programs.  Each district,
special education local plan area, or county office shall be reviewed
at least once during the period of approval of its local plan.