Cal. Ed. Code § 56175
If a parent or guardian of an individual with exceptional needs, who previously received special education and related services under the authority of the local educational agency, enrolls the child in a private elementary or secondary school without the consent of or referral by the local educational agency, a court or a due process hearing officer may require the local educational agency to reimburse the parent or guardian for the cost of that enrollment if the court or due process hearing officer finds that the local educational agency had not made a free appropriate public education available to the child in a timely manner prior to that enrollment in the private elementary or secondary school and that the private placement is appropriate, in accordance with Section 1412(a)(10)(C)(ii) of Title 20 of the United States Code and Section 300.148(c) of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Ca. Educ. Code § 56175