School accountability: pupils with disabilities: inclusion.

The $30 million appropriation previously allocated equally to Riverside County Office of Education and El Dorado County Office of Education is now redirected so that it goes only to El Dorado County Office of Education, routed through the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence rather than directly from the department.

The bill's appropriation status changed from 'no' to 'yes,' and the title now includes 'making an appropriation therefor,' reflecting that the bill modifies terms of a prior appropriation.

Section 3, which provided for state mandates reimbursement if the Commission on State Mandates determined the act contained costs mandated by the state, was removed entirely. The state-mandated local program designation also changed from 'yes' to 'no.'

The phrase 'Commencing with the 2027-28 fiscal year' was removed from the project establishment language, eliminating the specific start date and making the project's commencement contingent only on appropriation rather than a fixed fiscal year.

The old subsection (e), which authorized the department to contract with CCEE for the project to provide technical assistance to LEAs and charter schools identified as not meeting state performance plan indicators, was removed from the statute.

A new coordination requirement (D) was added requiring joint review of communication or guidance issued to local educational agencies by both the department and CCEE.

Several detailed activity descriptions were simplified: specific references to coteaching strategies, retention of education specialists, early childhood providers, IEP template support, and the Desired Results Developmental Profile were removed or condensed.

The phrase 'Compliance and Improvement Monitoring' was replaced with 'general supervision process' in references to the department's monitoring activities.

Administration of the project is split between two agencies: the California Department of Education administers 'direct support components' (targeted technical assistance for LEAs and charter schools not meeting state performance plan indicators), while the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence administers 'universal support components' (broad support and resources to all regions). Previously, CCEE was the sole administrator.

The state-mandated local program designation changes from 'yes' to 'no,' which removes the obligation for the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for costs mandated by the bill under the California Constitution.

New coordination requirements between the department and CCEE: a shared referral process allowing LEAs receiving universal support from CCEE to be referred to the department for direct support when needs exceed universal scope; joint data sharing protocols to track participation, progress, and outcomes; and annual joint review of activities and outcomes to identify gaps, overlaps, and coordination opportunities.

A new purpose is added: 'Provide technical assistance to local educational agencies and charter schools to improve inclusive outcomes for pupils with disabilities.'

The specific reference to providing support on 'alternate pathways to a diploma, as authorized by Sections 51225.31 and 51225.32' is removed from the project activities, though the statewide IEP template provision remains.

The $30 million over five years funding floor is now specified as being for CCEE specifically, 'in addition to funding in the annual Budget Act or another statute for the department for the purpose of this act.' Previously the funding language did not distinguish between agencies.

The project name is changed from 'Supporting Innovative Inclusive Practices' to 'Supporting Inclusive Practices' (removing the word 'Innovative').

The term 'Compliance and Improvement Monitoring process' is replaced with 'general supervision process' in the purposes section, aligning terminology with current departmental language.

The project is renamed from 'Supporting Innovative Practices project' to 'Supporting Innovative Inclusive Practices project' throughout the bill.

Subsection (d) is restructured into a multi-part requirement. New paragraph (2) requires the project to ensure that all regions of the state are provided with access to the project's support, guaranteeing geographic equity in service delivery.

New subsection (d)(3) requires the project to prioritize support, as directed by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence through agreement with the department, to local educational agencies and charter schools that have been identified for both differentiated assistance or direct technical assistance related to outcomes for pupils with disabilities AND for intensive intervention through the department's compliance monitoring system.

Subsection (e) expands the department's contracting authority: technical assistance may now be provided not only to schools identified as not meeting state performance plan indicators under IDEA, but also to those identified for intensive intervention through the department's compliance monitoring system. The indicator scope is also broadened to explicitly include least restrictive environment indicators.

Subsection (a)(1) expands the outcome measurement criteria beyond the federal IDEA mandate to also include state performance plan indicators related to least restrictive environment, including in preschool, and pupil academic achievement.