At its meeting, the Palmdale Aerospace Academy Board of Directors received a first reading of revised special education policy and a new, substantive administrative regulation that the presenter said aligns the academy with SELPA guidance and state and federal law.

The presenter said the AR replaces the term "triennial" with "reevaluation," adopts the state-preferred "seek and serve" terminology, and adds specific evaluation processes including initial assessments, reevaluations and independent educational evaluations. "There was no regulation that was explicit when it came to just the criteria for the assessment of students with disabilities. So I added in the, all the different evaluation processes and types," the presenter said.

The AR also adds prior written notice requirements, a procedural safeguards statement that references the academy's obligation to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), and detailed steps for mediation and due process. The presenter said the complaint process language was moved from policy into the AR to clarify procedures and that staff-specific concerns should be handled through internal academy procedure rather than the parent complaint channel.

On-state references, the presenter said the AR references the Education Code and applies processes required by SELPA for state and federal noncompliance complaints and mediation. A board member asked whether the regulations would be reviewed with attorneys; the presenter replied the content is drawn from SELPA documents and Ed Code and "has already been reviewed by attorneys almost a hundred times over."

This was presented as a first read; the presenter said the finalized redline and final copies will be provided before the next board meeting for action.