Special education: nonpublic, nonsectarian schools or agencies.

Senator Grove's special education reform measure would establish new oversight requirements for nonpublic, nonsectarian schools serving students with disabilities in California. The legislation mandates that these schools provide students copies of their rights and procedural safeguards, along with contact information for the State Department of Education's Equitable Services Ombudsman.

Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the State Superintendent must conduct expanded certification reviews of nonpublic schools, including evaluating behavioral intervention policies, interviewing enrolled students about their experiences, and ensuring confidential communication channels exist between students and their individualized education program teams. The Department of Education will develop a standardized interview tool by July 2026 for assessing student perceptions of respect, dignity and appropriate professional boundaries.

The bill requires local education agencies to conduct quarterly check-ins with students attending nonpublic schools through unmonitored phone calls. Schools must promptly notify the Department and contracting agencies of any incidents involving law enforcement. The legislation also expands grounds for certification revocation to include violations of behavioral intervention requirements and failure to implement individualized education programs.

To increase transparency, nonpublic schools must make certification status information available to local agencies and parents considering student placement. The measure includes provisions for state reimbursement of costs incurred by local educational agencies in implementing these new oversight responsibilities.