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Board approves special‑education policy updates and a new policy for nonpublic services
Summary
Trustees approved revisions to graduation‑requirements policy affecting students with disabilities, an updated BP 6159 on special education, and adopted a new BP 6159.2 governing nonpublic nonsectarian schools and agencies; trustees clarified wording to preserve required state-law language and added cross-references.
The board reviewed and approved a set of special‑education policy revisions and a new policy required by state law.
Staff introduced revisions to Board Policy 6146.7 (high-school graduation requirements) to clarify that alternate assessment pathways meet state requirements and to clarify the treatment of students with disabilities. Trustee Lauren Brooks proposed removing a paragraph about credit for private instruction and instead adding a reference to Board Policy 6157 to avoid duplication; she also asked that the bullet reading 'one course' be clarified to read 'one year‑long course or two semester courses' to avoid confusion about graduation-credit length. Trustees discussed the need to preserve any language required by state statute; Jen O’Malley (executive director of special education) and other staff confirmed the alternative-pathway language required by statute remains in the policy.
The board accepted the clarifications and voted to waive second readings and approve the proposed revisions to BP 6146.7.
Trustees also approved revisions to BP 6159 (special education) that update terms and administrative regulations to align with current legal requirements; trustees asked staff to add statutory language in one AR paragraph to make clear the district is not considered in violation if a parent or guardian refuses consent for initiation of services.
Finally, the board adopted a newly required policy, BP 6159.2, addressing nonpublic, nonsectarian schools and agencies providing services to students with disabilities pursuant to Education Code direction. The board waived second readings and approved the items by voice vote.
