Cal. Education Code - EDC 4.1. — ARTICLE 4.1. Inclusive College for Students with Intellectual Disabilities [66032. - 66032.2.] | Education Code - EDC — California

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 66032. Section 66032.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the California Center for Inclusive College increase awareness of, and access to, inclusive and experiential postsecondary education and employment opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities through degree, certificate, or nondegree programs that ideally include an independent living component. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish statewide support and coordination of the dissemination of information regarding programs and services for students with intellectual disabilities. (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the California Center for Inclusive College increase access to meaningful postsecondary education credentials and work experiences to afford students with intellectual disabilities inclusive and meaningful campus experiences to prepare for gainful employment and community living. (d) It is further the intent of the Legislature that the California Center for Inclusive College support the establishment and expansion of programs on college campuses that model inclusivity of all students, including those with intellectual disabilities.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 66032.1. Section 66032.1.

For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply: (a) “California Center for Inclusive College” or “center” means the California Center for Inclusive College established pursuant to this article. (b) “Inclusive college program” means a college program administered by a public postsecondary educational institution for students with intellectual disabilities in the state that offers students an inclusive program of study that includes opportunities to take courses, learn independent living skills, have employment experiences, and engage in social activities and organizations in a setting with other peers with and without disabilities, and that requires students with intellectual disabilities to have at least one-half of their participation in the program, as determined by the institution, focus on academic components through one or more of the following activities: (1) Taking credit-bearing courses with students with and without disabilities. (2) Auditing or otherwise participating in courses with students with and without disabilities for which the student does not receive regular academic credit. (3) Taking noncredit-bearing, nondegree courses with students with and without disabilities. (4) Participating in internships or work-based training in settings with individuals with and without disabilities. (c) “Public postsecondary educational institution” means the California State University, the University of California, or the California Community Colleges, and each campus, branch, and function thereof.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 66032.2. Section 66032.2.

(a) The California Center for Inclusive College is hereby established and shall be administered by the county office of education or county offices of education selected pursuant to subdivision (b), working in partnership with regional centers, public postsecondary educational institutions, and the University of California, Davis MIND Institute. (b) Commencing with the 2024–25 fiscal year, the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) shall be annually appropriated each fiscal year from the General Fund to the Superintendent to, in consultation with the executive director of the State Board of Education, allocate to one or more county offices of education selected to administer the center consistent with this section. (c) The responsibilities of the center shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following: (1) Assisting California inclusive college programs in aligning with the federal requirements, standards, and quality indicators identified by the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities and the coordinating center described in Section 1140q(b) of Title 20 of the United States Code, pursuant to Section 1140q of Title 20 of the United States Code. (2) Assisting California inclusive college programs with the development and submission of federal comprehensive transition and postsecondary program applications. (3) Facilitating collaboration between local educational agencies, regional centers, local Department of Rehabilitation field offices, and inclusive college programs to support students with intellectual disabilities and their parents, families, and supporters to plan for postsecondary transition. (4) Assisting public postsecondary educational institutions and inclusive college programs with the identification of potential funding sources to establish, sustain, or expand upon inclusive college programs, including student financial assistance opportunities. (5) Supporting inclusive college programs with guidance and assistance when applying for potential funding sources and student financial assistance opportunities. (6) Holding meetings and annual workshops to share best practices and provide technical assistance on developing and establishing an inclusive college program, including opportunities to transition two-year programs to four-year programs and to incorporate a residential living component. (7) Disseminating to local educational agencies, local Department of Rehabilitation field offices, and regional centers information about, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Education programs, services, and resources that are available at inclusive college programs. (B) Supports, accommodations, technical assistance, and training provided by inclusive college programs. (C) Mentoring, networking, and employment opportunities available at inclusive college programs. (8) Meeting regularly with interested parties, including, but not limited to, people with intellectual disabilities and their parents, families, and supporters; staff of the State Department of Education, the State Board of Education, the State Department of Developmental Services, the Department of Rehabilitation, and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; and public postsecondary educational institutions, with the goal of providing continuous improvement to the delivery of inclusive college programs to students with intellectual disabilities, by doing both of the following: (A) Identifying federal grant funding opportunities for state agencies and assisting inclusive college programs in investigating options for long-term programmatic and fiscal sustainability. (B) Sharing best practices, barriers, and challenges to establishing or expanding inclusive college programs. (d) (1) For the 2024–25 fiscal year, of the amount appropriated pursuant to subdivision (b), up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) shall be available for the center to convene an advisory workgroup consisting of representatives from at least two, but not more than six, existing inclusive college programs throughout the state to consult with the center and to do all of the following: (A) Collect and share best practices for inclusive college programs. (B) Advise and assist the center in determining areas of greatest need for technical assistance for inclusive college programs. (C) Support the center in exploring methods of capacity building to strengthen existing inclusive college programs. (2) Each inclusive college program with representatives in the advisory workgroup shall be reimbursed for any actual and necessary expenses incurred in connection with their participation in the advisory workgroup, in an amount not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for each inclusive college program. (e) To the extent practicable, the center shall leverage resources from the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities and the coordinating center described in Section 1140q(b) of Title 20 of the United States Code, pursuant to Section 1140q of Title 20 of the United States Code, for best practices, frameworks, and effective implementation of programs for students with disabilities, including long-term planning to increase inclusive college programs. (f) Beginning in the 2025–26 fiscal year, and annually thereafter, on or before March 1 each fiscal year, the center shall provide to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Department of Finance a report regarding the implementation of this section; relevant data, including, but not limited to, student activities and demographic information, to the extent feasible and meaningful to measure access, equity, and outcomes; and recommendations to expand evolving best practices. (g) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriations made by subdivision (b) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the fiscal year in which they are appropriated, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the fiscal year in which they are appropriated.