Visually impaired pupils: expanded core curriculum.

(1) Existing law establishes a right of individuals with exceptional needs to receive a free appropriate public education, and ensures the right to special instruction and related services needed to meet their unique needs, in conformity with federal law. Existing law provides for individualized education programs for blind, low vision, and visually impaired pupils, as defined. This bill would express legislative findings and declarations relating to the need for blind or visually impaired pupils to receive instruction in the expanded core curriculum. The bill would authorize school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to consider elements of the expanded core curriculum when developing individualized education programs for a pupil who is blind, has low vision, or is visually impaired. The bill, if an orientation and mobility evaluation is needed for a pupil who is blind, has low vision, or is visually impaired, would require that these evaluations be conducted by appropriately certified specialists, as specified, and occur in familiar and unfamiliar environments, in varying lighting conditions, and in the home, school, and community, as appropriate. By imposing new duties on school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools, the bill would constitute a state-mandated local program. (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 the statutory provisions noted above.