It is the intent of the Legislature that programs at the California School for the Deaf provide all of the following:

(a) Each pupil should be assured an education appropriate to his or her needs in publicly supported programs through completion of his or her prescribed course of study or until the time that he or she has met proficiency standards.

(b) Each pupil should have his or her educational goals, objectives, special education, and related services specified in a written individualized education program.

(c) Procedures and materials for assessment and placement of individuals with exceptional needs should be selected and administered so as not to be racially, culturally, or sexually discriminatory. No single assessment instrument should be the sole criterion for determining placement of a pupil. The procedures and materials for assessment and placement should be in the individual’s mode of communication. All assessment materials and procedures should be selected and administered pursuant to Section 56320.

(d) Psychological and health services for individuals with exceptional needs should be available to each schoolsite.

(e) Continuous evaluation of the effectiveness of these education programs should be made to ensure the highest quality educational offerings.

(f) Appropriate qualified staff should be employed, consistent with credentialing requirements, to fulfill the educational responsibilities, and positive efforts are made to employ qualified deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

(g) Educational and residential program personnel should be adequately prepared to provide educational instruction and services to individuals with exceptional needs in the appropriate communication mode, including American Sign Language.

(h) There should be appropriate access to information and training in American Sign Language for parents and pupils to ensure that they are able to appropriately communicate with their families.

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 865, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.)