Section 49069.5.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the mobility of pupils in foster care often disrupts their educational experience. The Legislature also finds that efficient transfer procedures and transfer of pupil records is a critical factor in the swift placement of foster children in educational settings.

(b) The proper and timely transfer between schools of pupils in foster care is the responsibility of both the local educational agency and the county placing agency.

(c) As soon as the county placing agency becomes aware of the need to transfer a pupil in foster care out of his or her current school, the county placing agency shall contact the appropriate person at the local educational agency of the pupil. The county placing agency shall notify the local educational agency of the date that the pupil will be leaving the school and request that the pupil be transferred out.

(d) Upon receiving a transfer request from a county placing agency, the local educational agency shall, within two business days, transfer the pupil out of school and deliver the educational information and records of the pupil to the next educational placement.

(e) As part of the transfer process described under subdivisions (c) and (d), the local educational agency shall compile the complete educational record of the pupil including a determination of seat time, full or partial credits earned, current classes and grades, immunization and other records, and, if applicable, a copy of the pupil's plan adopted pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794 et seq.) or individualized education program adopted pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.).

(f) The local educational agency shall assign the duties listed in this section to a person competent to handle the transfer procedure and aware of the specific educational recordkeeping needs of homeless, foster, and other transient children who transfer between schools.

(g) The local educational agency shall ensure that if the pupil in foster care is absent from school due to a decision to change the placement of a pupil made by a court or placing agency, the grades and credits of the pupil will be calculated as of the date the pupil left school, and no lowering of grades will occur as a result of the absence of the pupil under these circumstances.

(h) The local educational agency shall ensure that if the pupil in foster care is absent from school due to a verified court appearance or related court ordered activity, no lowering of his or her grades will occur as a result of the absence of the pupil under these circumstances.

(i) For the purposes of this section, "pupil in foster care" means any child who has been removed from his or her home pursuant to Section 309 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, is the subject of a petition filed under Section 300 or 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or has been removed from his or her home and is the subject of a petition filed under Section 300 or 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 639, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2006.)