(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) Early childhood inclusion embodies the values, policies, and practices that support the right of every infant and young child and their family, regardless of ability, to participate in a broad range of activities and contexts as full members of families, communities, and society. The desired results of inclusive experiences for children with and without disabilities and their families include a sense of belonging and membership, positive social relationships and friendships, and development and learning to reach their full potential. The defining features of inclusion that can be used to identify high-quality early childhood programs and services are access, participation, and supports. (2) In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), all young children with exceptional needs should have access to inclusive high-quality early care and education programs where they are able to learn alongside children who do not have exceptional needs and are provided with individualized and appropriate supports to enable them to meet high expectations. (3) Inclusive early care and education programs can improve a childâs developmental progress and educational outcomes, especially for children with exceptional needs. (4) Interventions provided to children with exceptional needs, including children who are at risk of requiring services for pupils with exceptional needs, can be more effective when a child is younger. (5) Access to inclusive early care and education programs benefits communities and families, especially when programs are coordinated with public elementary and secondary education systems to create a developmental and educational continuum of support. (b) The Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program is hereby established for the purpose of increasing access to inclusive early care and education programs. (c) The sum of one hundred sixty-seven million two hundred forty-two thousand dollars ($167,242,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Superintendent for allocation to local educational agencies for the Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program pursuant to this section. These funds shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2023. (d) The sum of two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Superintendent for allocation to local educational agencies for the Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program pursuant to this section. These funds shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2027. (e) The departmentâs divisions for special education and early education programs shall work collaboratively to administer the program, including developing criteria for the selection of grantees. (f) At a minimum, an applicant shall be a local educational agency and shall include all of the following information in its grant application: (1) A proposal to increase access to subsidized inclusive early care and education programs for children up to five years of age, including those defined as âchildren with exceptional needsâ pursuant to Section 8205, in low-income and high-need communities. âHigh-needâ shall be defined pursuant to the county childcare needs assessment specified in Section 10486 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and other factors as determined by the Superintendent. The proposal shall quantify the number of additional subsidized children proposed to be served, including children with exceptional needs. (2) A plan to fiscally sustain subsidized spaces or programs created by grant funds beyond the grant period. Subsidies may be funded with private, local, state, or federal funds, but shall be able to demonstrate a reasonable expectation of sustainability. (3) (A) The identification of local resources to contribute 33 percent of the total award amount. The total award amount shall include state and local resources. Lo
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