MEMBER UDATE A review of 2015-2016 and important dates for 2016-17

On Your Behalf During 2015-16, CAPSES was engaged in the legislative, regulatory and policy process on critical issues that impact CAPSES member schools and agencies, and the individuals with disabilities they serve. CAPSES initiated language to eliminate an outdated code prohibiting a person employed by a Local Educational Agency (LEA) within the last 365 days, to be hired by Nonpublic Agencies who contract with an LEA for special education related services. California nonpublic agency recruiting, hiring and training efforts have been heavily impacted by the outdated code. The language, with the assistance of Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, was included in SB-828 School Finance: Education Omnibus Trailer Bill (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review.) On July 27, 2016, Governor Jerry Brown approved the bill effective on July 1, 2016, allowing NPAs to hire individuals employed by LEAs without the restrictions imposed by the outdated code. CAPSES and Spectrum Schools is sponsoring legislation authored by Assembly Member Patrick O’Connell, Chair of the Assembly Education Committee. AB-1918 will allow the use of “Temporary County Certificates” by certificated nonpublic school employees during the period of submitting an application for initial/renewal of a California Teaching Credential by the CTC. The Bill also proposes that the CTC will honor “requests to expedite the processing of applications received from nonpublic schools.” If passed, this legislation will assist in reducing the special education teacher shortage at our nonpublic schools.

“CAPSES mission is to maximize the potential for individuals with disabilities by advocating for them in public policy, and promoting high quality instruction, guidance, therapy and staff development.”

Inside: On Your Behalf Learn what CAPSES accomplished in 2015 -16 to impact legislative, regulatory and policy issues

Region Accomplishments Learn what CAPSES achieved on the regional level in 2015 -16

Important Dates in 2016-17

CAPSES worked with the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA) to amend the bill AB-1715 (Holden) to acknowledge Nonpublic Schools and Nonpublic Agencies’ role in behavior support for Students with Disabilities. The bill was withdrawn from further consideration by the Legislature this year, with hopes to reintroduce the bill at a later time.

Legislative Day, Administrator Training & CAPSES Conference

CAPSES supported SB 479 which would have established a licensing process for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

CAPSES Student Art Contest

CAPSES supported a Joint Legislative Audit of AB 114 which transferred responsibility for IEP driven children’s mental health services from county mental health agency to public school districts in California.

Call for Presenters CAPSES welcomes presentation proposals 2016-17

Details for the Fifth Annual CAPSES Art Contest

Fifth Annual Art Contest

On Your Behalf CAPSES remains committed to our involvement in statewide legislative, regulatory and policy processes as a pledge to our mission to “maximize the potential for individuals with disabilities by advocating for them in pubic policy, and promoting high-quality instruction, guidance, therapy and staff development. CAPSES attends regular meetings with the California Department of Education (CDE) to assure that Nonpublic Schools have access to common core curriculum at the same cost that public school districts pay for their curriculum and instructional materials. Also, assuring that Nonpublic Schools have access to the Digital Library and the Smarter Balance Assessment System as appropriate for our pupils. CAPSES was an active participant in the 2015-16 California State Budget.

CAPSES actively participates in the Proposed Title 5 Regulations which align the California Code of Regulations with deferral regulations and qualifications for NPS and NPA align with LEA. CAPSES is actively involved in the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) Task Force for Special Education to review and discuss changes in special education, making policy recommendations for change to credentials and making planning recommendations for changes to the Commission on Teacher Credentials. CAPSES is actively involved in the California Private School Advisory Committee (CPSAC). The California Private School Advisory Committee focus is to ensure that private schools assist the State Superintendent of Schools in policy development regarding private schools, advise on state and federal statutory and regulatory issues, and make recommendations for the use of private school federal funding through the federal No Child Left Behind Act, (NCLB), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). CAPSES is actively involved in The California Association of Private School Organizations (CAPSO). CAPSO is the voice of K-12 private education in California. CAPSO is instrumental in supporting CAPSES initiatives and monitoring California legislation as necessary. CAPSO brings the full array of private schools to lend support or opposition to state and federal legislation, policy, and regulations.

Let’s get creative! The CAPSES Fifth Annual Art Contest is officially underway and open to students enrolled at a CAPSES Member School or Agency. Winners are selected from each region in two age groups, Elementary, and Middle/High School.

All entries must be twodimensional and no smaller than 8x10 and no larger than 24x24 To enter, send a JPEG or BMP image to [email protected] no later than February 17, 2017. Include with the submission, the size of the piece, Name of Student (first name only), Age/Birth Date, Grade, CAPSES Region and CAPSES School/Agency and parental or guardian permission. Winning artists will receive a $25 gift certificate, and their art submissions displayed at the CAPSES Executive Office in Sacramento for one year. Winning artwork must be mailed unframed and unmated to: CAPSES Executive Office 520 Capitol Mall, Suite 280 Sacramento, CA 95814

Winners announced on March 31, 2017

Kai, Age 6, Orange County, KiDA

Call for Presentations CAPSES welcomes presentation proposals for the 2016-17 Conference and Training sessions. We seek presentation on high-quality instruction, guidance, therapy and staff development that maximizes the potential for individuals with disabilities in the private special education school and agency settings. STRANDS: Administrative Save these important dates in 2016-2017

Curriculum

Behavioral Therapy/Counseling Autism Speech Therapy

Deadline to submit presentation application is September 30, 2016. For more info, go to www.capses.com/ maximizing-membership/ annual-conference or email [email protected]

Training Events & Conferences Mark Your Calendar! Administrator Training Day Monday, January 30, 2017, Sacramento, CA offers a wide variety of professional learning opportunities, including updates from the California Department of Education, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and changes in state and national policies. Legislative Day Tuesday, January 31, 2017, Sacramento, CA includes a legislative update, lunch with members & legislative staff and visits with your representatives.

Spring Conference, Pasadena, CA, Friday, March 31, 2017 (LAUSD Pupil Free Day) The Spring Conference is one of our signature events for the year and includes education sessions for Nonpublic School and Agency administrators, educators and staff. The CAPSES annual conference will provide information about innovations, strategies, and governmental issues facing schools and agencies. Members are encouraged to check with Title Funds Administrators for available funding. March 31, 2017 is a Pupil Free Day in the Los Angeles Unified School District, making it a perfect day to send staff to a quality conference covering a wide variety of topics.

Southern California Region Accomplishments CAPSES Region representatives worked to improve the contract language in the 20162017 LAUSD and GLASS master contracts for nonpublic schools and agencies, including the removal of language that would require the immediate removal of staff for any allegations of misconduct and the addition of language to protect schools from doing costly assessments for LEAs without compensation. Southern California Regions developed and implemented a new rate negotiation process with GLAAS that is currently in its second year. Those Schools who participated in the process have received higher rate increases. LA area CAPSES board members representing nonpublic schools and agencies established meetings between the Executive Director of Operations for LAUSD. Topics discussed thus far, include changes to the referral process, the need for the increase in related service rates and organizational and staffing changes at LAUSD. The process for rate negotiations with LAUSD for both nonpublic schools and nonpublic agencies is in development. This new process should be in place for the 2017-2018 school year. On December 15, 2015, Los Angeles Board of Education canceled school in response to the terrorist threat. Reclassified by LAUSD as a non-instructional day for all Districts and Charter Schools, the NPA calendar would not be adjusted. CAPSES board president Dan Maydeck submitted a letter to the District, stating that “nonpublic agencies can be reimbursed for the provision of services on 12/15/2015, incurred on behalf of the students of LAUSD, in accordance with the terms of our Master Contract.” Soon after, LAUSD sent a letter to contracting nonpublic agencies with information on the types of services that were eligible for payment and how to submit a billing claim. The CAPSES San Diego region members worked together to set tuition rates and to modify the language to the Master Contract to satisfy the requirements of the California Department of Education. Fox Sports aired a news story featuring CAPSES San Diego Sports League. The league was started 21 years ago and has grown from four schools to thirteen schools. Participation offers students the opportunity to play league sports who might otherwise be excluded. CAPSES Board of Directors praised the league for displaying a positive view of NPS students and schools and for inspiring students to succeed.

Northern California Region Accomplishments Across Northern California, participation in region meetings grew as an increasing number of members united to advocate for public policy, legislation and quality education services for special needs students. CAPSES region representatives worked in several critical ways to address issues impacting member organizations and the students they serve. In 2015-16, the Bay Area experienced a high SELPA turnover. CAPSES nonpublic school and agency members serving as representatives to the Bay Area Consortium worked to ensure a smooth transition for incoming SELPA. Through their strong historical knowledge and willingness to preserve the vital role of the Consortium, CAPSES representatives worked to guarantee consistency and to ease potential impact of such changes on nonpublic schools and agencies in the region. Additionally, the group worked to successfully add an appeals opportunity to the Bay Area Collaborative rate process. Recognizing the shortage of qualified professionals to meet the needs of students with disabilities, CAPSES Nonpublic Schools and Agencies in the Bay Area turned to one another as resources to help fill much needed related services positions.

CAPSES Board Members Daniel Maydeck, M.B.A. Haynes Family of Programs La Verne, CA CAPSES President Chris Holmes, M.S. Spectrum Center Schools San Pablo, CA CAPSES Treasurer Region Rep. San Francisco & North Bay Rebecca Foo, Ph., D., Switzer Center Torrance, CA CAPSES Secretary Suzy Fitch, Ed. D. The Institute for Effective Education San Diego, CA CAPSES Region Rep. San Diego Ray Richard, M.S. Valley High School North Hills, CA CAPSES Region Rep. Greater Los Angeles San Fernando Valley Richard Schnetzer Mardan School Irvine, CA CAPSES Governmental Affairs Consultant Teresa Malekzadeh Beacon School San Jose, CA CAPSES Governmental Affairs Chair Region Rep San Francisco South Bay Peninsula

Ryan Eisenberg, Ed. D. AchieveKids San Jose, CA CAPSES Events Committee Mishelle Owens, Ed. D. , BCET Ahead, Inc. Glendale, CA CAPSES Membership Committee Randye Eichler, M. S. Placer Learning Center Granite Bay, CA CAPSES Region Rep. Sacramento Valley Edward Danskin, Ed. D. Intensive Behavior Intervention Consultants Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 CAPSES Events Committee

Edward Amey, M.S. Institute for the Redesign of Learning South Pasadena, CA CAPAES Region Rep. San Gabriel Valley Inland Empire Jason Bolton, Psy. D. The H.E.L.P. Group Sherman Oaks, CA CAPSES Events Committee

CAPSES Staff Susan Lane, Executive Director CAPSES Executive Office 520 Capitol Mall, Suite 280 Sacramento, CA 95814 email: [email protected] ph: 916-447-7061 www.capses.com