Section 56049 - Pupils with disabilities; least restrictive environmentThe Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) All pupils are general education pupils first, including pupils with disabilities.(b) Comprehensive local educational agency and school-level fiscal and programmatic planning, including planning conducted pursuant to Section 52064, must reflect the needs of all pupils, including pupils with disabilities.(c) Inclusion in general education classrooms and programs should be considered the first setting for all pupils, unless the individualized education program for a pupil with a disability determines that another setting is more suitable to guarantee a free and appropriate public education.(d) Data transparency and analysis are essential to understanding the needs of pupils. Local educational agencies should use all available data sources on pupils with disabilities, with a particular focus on least restrictive environment data, to inform continuous improvement efforts.Added by Stats 2022 ch 919 (SB 692),s 1, eff. 1/1/2023.