Message from the California Department of Finance
 
As the Governor’s Budget summary indicates, the Administration will engage with general and special education stakeholders to discuss how to improve the way in which California provides funding and services for students with exceptional needs.  Central to these discussions are two recent evaluations of the state’s special education system—the 2015 report by the Special Education Task Force and the 2016 report by the Public Policy Institute of California.  While differing in scope and specific recommendations, these reports both call for more seamless integration of general and special education. 
 
In response to these reports, we invite you to participate in any one of four upcoming forum discussions that will be held throughout the state, at which we hope you will be willing to share your feedback on the structure of special education and the recommendations included in these recent evaluations.
 
Each discussion will proceed as follows:
 
Welcome and opening comments from Department of Finance. 
A summary of the Public Policy Institute of California report, with time for questions and answers. 
Input by attendees. 
Please RSVP for one of the four discussions below by sending an email [email protected].  Further, you may also send your feedback and specific recommendations to this email address.  If you have any additional questions about the process, please contact Ian Johnson in our office.
 
March 3, 2017
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, CA 95814
 
March 10, 2017
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Los Angeles County Office of Education
9300 Imperial Hwy, Room 281
Downey, CA 90242
 
March 17, 2017
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
San Mateo County Office of Education
101 Twin Dolphin Drive, California Suite Board Room
Redwood City, CA 94065
 
March 24, 2017
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Fresno County Office of Education
1111 Van Ness Ave, Room 101T
Fresno, CA 93721
 
Thank you in advance for your contributions to this process.