Section 4802.1 - Verification of Petition Signatures and Obligations of the LEA(a) An LEA must provide, in writing, to any persons who request it, information as to how the LEA intends to implement section 4800.1(g) as to any subject school and any normally matriculating elementary or middle schools, including providing enrollment data and the number of signatures that would be required pursuant to section 4802.1(e).(b) Upon receipt of the petition, the LEA may make reasonable efforts to verify that the signatures on the petition can be counted consistent with these regulations. The LEA and matriculating LEAs shall use common verification documents that contain parent or guardian signatures to verify petition signatures such as emergency verification cards signed by all parents or guardians. In order to verify the enrollment of a pupil in a school that normally matriculates into the subject school, but is not within the jurisdiction of the LEA, an LEA may contact the school or the LEA of the school. The matriculating LEA or school shall provide information necessary to the subject school and LEA in order to assist in verifying signatures. An LEA shall not invalidate the signature of a parent or legal guardian of an eligible pupil on a minor technicality assuming the parent or legal guardian is entitled to sign it. The LEA and the matriculating LEA or school shall make a good faith effort to contact parents or guardians when a signature is not clearly identifiable including phone calls to the parent or guardian.(c) If, on the date the petition is submitted, a school is identified pursuant to section 4800.1(k), it shall remain a subject school until final disposition of the petition by the LEA even if it thereafter ceases to meet the definition of a subject school, unless that school has exited federal Program Improvement and is at or over 800 on the Academic Performance Index.(d) If a petition has sought only signatures of parents of pupils attending the subject school, then for purposes of calculating whether parents or legal guardians of at least one-half of pupils attending the subject school on the date the petition has been submitted have signed the petition, only those signatures of parents or legal guardians of pupils attending the subject school on the date the petition is submitted to the LEA shall be counted.(e) If a petition has sought signatures of parents or legal guardians of pupils attending the subject school and the elementary or middle schools that normally matriculate into the subject school, then for purposes of calculating whether the parents or legal guardians of at least one-half of pupils attending the subject school and the elementary or middle schools that normally matriculate into the subject school on the date the petition has been submitted have signed the petition, only those signatures of parents or legal guardians of pupils attending the subject school and the parents or legal guardians of pupils attending the elementary or middle schools who would normally matriculate into the subject school at the time the petition is submitted to the LEA shall be counted. Where pupils attend elementary or middle schools that normally matriculate into more than one subject school, only those pupils attending the subject school and those pupils that normally matriculate, as defined in section 4800.1(g), into the subject school, shall be counted in calculating whether the parents or legal guardians of at least one-half of pupils attending the subject school and the elementary or middle schools that normally matriculate into the subject school on the date the petition has been submitted have signed the petition. There is no specified ratio required of signatures gathered at each school, rather the total ratio of signatures gathered must meet the one-half requirement.(f) In connection with the petition, the LEA may only contact parents or legal guardians to verify eligible signatures on the petition. The identified lead petitioners for the petition shall be consulted to assist in contacting parents or legal guardians when the LEA fails to reach a parent or legal guardian.(g) Upon receipt, the LEA may, within 40 calendar days, return the petition to the person designated as the contact person or persons as specified in section 4802(c), if the LEA determines any of the following:(1) One half of the parents or legal guardians of pupils meeting the requirements of section 4801(a) have not signed the petition;(2) The school named in the petition is not a subject school; or(3) The petition does not substantially meet the requirements specified in section 4802. In such a case, the LEA shall immediately provide the contact person written notice of its reasons for returning the petition and its supporting findings.(h) If the LEA finds that sufficient signatures cannot be verified by the LEA it shall immediately notify the lead petitioner contacts and provide the lead petitioner the names of those parents and legal guardians it cannot verify. The lead petitioner contacts shall be provided 60 calendar days to assist the LEA to verify the signatures. A number of methods may be used, including, but not limited to, an official notarization process or having the parent or guardian appear at the school or district office.(i) If the LEA finds a discrepancy or problem with a submitted petition it shall notify the lead petition contacts in writing and request assistance and clarification prior to the final disposition of the petition. The LEA shall identify which signatures need verification, any errors found in the petition, or any need for further clarification regarding the petition.(j) If the petition is returned pursuant to section 4802.1(g)(1), the same petition may be resubmitted to the LEA with verified signatures as long as no substantive changes are made to the petition. The petitioners shall be provided one resubmission opportunity which must be completed within a window of 60 calendar days after the return of the petition pursuant to section 4802.1. This is the same window for verification of signatures and any corrections or additional signatures submitted pursuant to section 4802.1(h). The LEA shall have 25 calendar days to verify the resubmitted signatures, additional signatures or corrections to the petition. The resubmitted petition may not contain substantive changes or amendments. If substantive changes are made to the petition, it must be recirculated for signatures before it may be submitted to the LEA and it shall be deemed a new petition.(k) If the LEA does not return the petition the LEA shall have 45 calendar days from the date the petition is received to reach a final disposition. The date may be extended by an additional 25 calendar days if the LEA and the person listed in section 4802(c) agree to the extension in writing.(l) The LEA shall notify the SSPI and the SBE in writing within fifteen calendar days of its receipt of a petition and within five calendar days of the final disposition of the petition. The notice of final disposition shall state that the LEA will implement the recommended option or include the written finding stating the reason it cannot implement the specific recommended option and designating which of the other options it will implement and stating that the alternative option selected has substantial promise of enabling the school to make adequate yearly progress.(m) If the number of schools identified in a petition and subject to an intervention by a final disposition will exceed the maximum of 75 schools pursuant to Education Code section 53302, and the SSPI and the SBE receive two or more notifications of final dispositions that agree to implement an intervention on the same day, the petition will be chosen by random selection.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 5, § 4802.1
1. New section filed 10-27-2011; operative 11-26-2011 (Register 2011, No. 43). Note: Authority cited: Section 33031, Education Code. Reference: Sections 53202, 53300, 53301 and 53302, Education Code.
1. New section filed 10-27-2011; operative 11-26-2011 (Register 2011, No. 43).