Bill > AB784

This bill addresses specialized services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in special education by clarifying that an Individualized Education Program (IEP) can include standalone specialized deaf and hard-of-hearing services. The bill recognizes that deaf or hard-of-hearing pupils have unique communication and educational access needs that may not always require full special education placement or instruction by a special education teacher. Specifically, the bill amends the Education Code to explicitly state that an IEP can include "specialized deaf and hard-of-hearing related services" as the only services provided. These specialized services, identified by Service Code 710 in the California Special Education Management Information System, can include language and communication development, auditory skill development, and educational accommodations. The bill also allows these services to be delivered by certified nonpublic agencies when a specialized deaf or hard-of-hearing teacher is not providing core academic instruction but instead focusing on supporting the student's communication access. This change aims to provide more flexible and tailored educational support for deaf and hard-of-hearing students based on their individual assessed needs.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB784