Special education: pupil transfers: residency requirements: records.

Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez's legislation modifies California's special education transfer procedures, establishing new timelines for schools to implement education plans when students move between districts. The measure addresses transfers both within California and from other states, with particular attention to children of active military personnel.

Under the new provisions, local educational agencies must act within 30 days of receiving student records to either adopt the existing individualized education program (IEP) or develop a new one. The bill requires schools to accept unofficial records from parents while awaiting official documentation, aligning with the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. For military families, parents have 10 days after their published arrival date to provide proof of residence, which can include temporary base housing, leased properties, or federal military housing.

The legislation creates specific coordination requirements between schools during transfers. When notified that an incoming student receives or may qualify for special education services, districts must immediately begin working with parents and previous schools to maintain service continuity. Previous schools must respond promptly to record requests, while receiving schools must implement comparable services during the transition period. For students transferring from residential nonpublic schools, the bill maintains funding responsibility with the original placing agency through the remainder of the school year.