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 Bill Text - SB-685 Special education: nonpublic schools and agencies.

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 |Add To My Favorites |Track Bill | Version: 07/02/26 - Amended Assembly
 06/22/26 - Amended Assembly
 06/11/26 - Amended Assembly
 06/26/25 - Amended Assembly
 04/22/25 - Amended Senate
 04/10/25 - Amended Senate
 03/26/25 - Amended Senate
 02/21/25 - Introduced

 SB-685 Special education: nonpublic schools and agencies.(2025-2026)

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 Date Published: 07/02/2026 09:00 PM

SB685:v92#DOCUMENTBill Start

 Amended
 IN 
 Assembly
 July 02, 2026

 Amended
 IN 
 Assembly
 June 22, 2026

 Amended
 IN 
 Assembly
 June 11, 2026

 Amended
 IN 
 Assembly
 June 26, 2025

 Amended
 IN 
 Senate
 April 22, 2025

 Amended
 IN 
 Senate
 April 10, 2025

 Amended
 IN 
 Senate
 March 26, 2025

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

 Senate Bill

No. 685

Introduced by Senator Cortese
(Coauthor: Senator Stern)

February 21, 2025

 An act to amend Sections 33050, 44237, 44415, 48645.5, 48853, 48853.5, 48854, 48856, 48911.5, 48986, 49001, 51225.2, 52052, 56001, 56028, 56034, 56035, 56040.6, 56042, 56101, 56124, 56157, 56168, 56170, 56195.8, 56205, 56325, 56326.5, 56342.1, 56345, 56361, 56361.5, 56365, 56366, 56366.1, 56366.4, 56366.45, 56366.5, 56366.6, 56366.8, 56366.9, 56366.10, 56366.11, 56366.12, 56383, 56430, 56441.8, 56505, 56505.2, 56521.2, 56836.20, 56836.21, 56847, 56856, and 56857 of, to amend the heading of Article 4 (commencing with Section 56836.20) of Chapter 7.2 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 of, to add Section 56359 to, and to repeal and add Section 56366.2 of, the Education Code, and to amend Sections 7575 and 7579 of the Government Code, relating to special education.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 685, as amended, Cortese.
 Special education: nonpublic schools and agencies.

(1) Existing law sets forth a method for providing special education and related services to pupils with exceptional needs. Existing law permits, under certain circumstances, contracts to be entered into for the provision of those services by nonpublic, nonsectarian schools or agencies. Existing law defines “nonpublic, nonsectarian school” and “nonpublic, nonsectarian agency” for these purposes. Existing law authorizes a master contract for special education and related services provided by a nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency only if the school or agency has been certified as meeting specified standards. Existing law sets forth the certification process and procedures for the nonpublic, nonsectarian schools or agencies that seek certification from the Superintendent of Public Instruction, including that the school or agency file an application with
 specified information. Existing law requires the Superintendent, before certification of a nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency, to conduct an onsite review of the facility and program for which the applicant seeks certification and authorizes the Superintendent to verify that the school or agency has received a successful criminal background check clearance and has enrolled in subsequent arrest notice service for each owner, operator, and employee of the school or agency. Existing law requires the Superintendent to monitor the facilities, educational environment, and quality of the educational program of an existing certified nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency on a 3-year cycle, as provided.

Existing law requires the master contract for nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency services to include, among other things, an individual service agreement for each pupil placed by a local educational agency. Existing law requires a contracting local educational
 agency to pay the full amount of the tuition or fees, as applicable, for individuals with exceptional needs who are enrolled in programs or receiving services provided pursuant to the contract. Existing law requires a master contract for nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency services to be developed in accordance with specified provisions, including, among others, that the master contract specify the general administrative and financial agreements, including teacher-to-pupil ratios, between the school or agency and the local educational agency to provide the special education and designated instruction services.

Existing law requires a certified nonpublic school or agency to provide written notification to the State Department of Education and the local educati