Policy – Category 3000 (Business and Noninstructional Operations)
BP 3001 – Low Incidence Funding
percent of the total statewide enrollment in kindergarten through grade 12. For purposes of this definition, severe disabling conditions are hearing impairments, vision impairments, and severe orthopedic impairments, or any combination thereof. For purposes of this definition, vision impairments do not include disabilities within the function of vision specified in Section 56338. A student with a low incidence disability is one who is deaf, blind, deaf and blind, or severely orthopedically impaired whether this disability is their primary disability, or a concomitant disability. Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) should have their specialized needs discussed and recorded at their IEP/IFSP meeting. These documented needs are what determine the Local Education Agency’s (LEA) responsibility to secure specialized books, materials, and services. It is the responsibility of the LEA to locate funds to purchase the items documented in the IEP or IFSP. One source is low incidence funds. Even though students, parents, or teachers do not have direct access to these funds, students should have access to specialized equipment, books, and materials necessary for them to benefit from their educational program. Because of the high cost of these specialized books, materials, and equipment, it is necessary to provide additional funding for these programs. This low incidence money is distributed in accordance with the regulations set out in California Education Code § 56836.22 . Low incidence funding is provided for purchasing and coordinating the use of specialized books, materials, and equipment for students with low incidence disabilities. As a condition of receiving low incidence funds, the Desert/Mountain Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) ensures that the appropriate books, materials, and equipment are purchased, that the use of the equipment is coordinated as necessary and that the books, materials, and equipment are reassigned once they are no longer needed by the LEA that originally received them.
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How to Request Low Incidence Funding
California Education Code § 59201. The diagnostic centers are a part of the public school system of the state, except that they derive no revenue from the State School Fund. The diagnostic centers provide services, including pupil assessment, consultation, technical assistance, and training, to school districts, county offices of education, and special education local plan areas.
To purchase low incidence equipment using low incidence funds, the LEA must first complete an assistive technology assessment (refer to Appendix A for Assistive Technology Assessment Referral Process). If the IEP team determines the student has a
BP 3001 – Low Incidence Funding
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Desert Mountain Special Education Local Plan Area (DMSELPA) (rev. 09/18)
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