#KnowYourRights: California’s New Laws and What They Mean for Special Needs Families

Several new bills were signed into law recently in California that positively impact the rights of disabled students and their families. When you #KnowYourRights, you can effectively advocate for your child's needs. Read on - and as always, feel free to reach out to me directly by emailing tara@capablekidsadvocacy.com. To read the complete list of new legislation, click here. Keep Advocating!

Senate Bill 291 – Pupil Rights: Recess

Starting in the 2024-25 school year, California schools must provide at least 30 minutes of recess on regular school days and 15 minutes on early release days, thanks to a new law, SB 291.

Recess is defined as supervised but unstructured time for students to play, engage in physical activities, and socialize. Schools cannot take away a student’s recess unless there's an immediate safety threat, and they must try to quickly resolve any issues to avoid excluding students from recess.

Senate Bill 483 – Pupil Rights: Prone Restraint

Max Benson’s Law to Protect Vulnerable Students’ Safety and Rights: Prone restraint is a technique that physically or mechanically restrains students in a face down position — one of the most dangerous forms of emergency interventions, which has resulted in severe injuries and even fatalities among students.

This new law protects students by prohibiting its use in ALL California schools.

Senate Bill 445 – Parent Rights: IEP Template Translation

The IEP process can be overwhelming and intimating for parents and guardians who are not familiar with the terminology - especially, if that person’s native language is not English.

SB 445 requires the forthcoming statewide IEP template under development by the California Collaborative for Excellence in Education to be translated into the top 10 most commonly spoken languages used across the state and to make those templates available on its website by January 1, 2027, or no later than 18 months after the template is digitally posted.

Senate Bill 939 – Parent Rights: Neurodiversity Support & Info

A new law requires the California Department of Education to post resources on its website for families dealing with school-based bullying or discrimination, now adding support for neurodiverse students. Schools will need to make these resources easily accessible by the 2025-26 school year.

The resources, developed by experts from the University of California and California State University, will focus on helping students who are bullied for being or being perceived as neurodivergent. This law also updates training modules for school staff and parents to include how to support neurodiverse students.

Senate Bill 438 – Pupil Rights: IEP Postsecondary goals and transition services.

A new law, starting July 1, 2025, will require schools to include post-high school goals and transition services in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) as soon as they start high school, rather than waiting until age 16.

This will help students with special needs plan earlier for their future, including goals for education, work, and independent living. Schools are required to provide these services and will be reimbursed by the state for any additional costs involved.