Pupils: foster children: educational placement.

(1) Existing law requires a local educational agency serving a foster child to allow the foster child to continue his or her education in the school of origin for the duration of the jurisdiction of the court over the child. Existing law requires the local educational agency to allow a foster child to continue in the school of origin through the duration of the academic school year if the jurisdiction of the court is terminated before the end of the school year. This bill would impose a state-mandated local program by also requiring a local educational agency to allow a former foster child to continue his or her education in the school of origin through graduation if the jurisdiction of the court is terminated while the foster child is in high school. The bill would provide that a school district is not required to provide transportation to a former foster child who has an individualized education program that does not require transportation as a related service and who changes residence but remains in his or her school of origin, unless the individualized education program team determines that transportation is a necessary related service. The bill also would make conforming, clarifying, and nonsubstantive changes. The bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 48853.5 of the Education Code, proposed by AB 1909, to be operative only if AB 1909 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective January 1, 2013, and this bill is chaptered last. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.