(a) Each meeting to develop, review, or revise the individualized education program of an individual with exceptional needs shall be conducted by an individualized education program team.

(b) The individualized education program team shall include all of the following:

(1) One or both of the pupil’s parents, a representative selected by a parent, or both, in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.).

(2) Not less than one regular education teacher of the pupil, if the pupil is, or may be, participating in the regular education environment. If more than one regular education teacher is providing instructional services to the individual with exceptional needs, one regular education teacher may be designated by the local educational agency to represent the others.

The regular education teacher of an individual with exceptional needs, to the extent appropriate, shall participate in the development, review, and revision of the pupil’s individualized education program, including assisting in the determination of appropriate positive behavioral interventions and supports, and other strategies for the pupil, and the determination of supplementary aids and services, program modifications, and supports for school personnel that will be provided for the pupil, consistent with Section 1414(d)(1)(A)(i)(IV) of Title 20 of the United States Code.

(3) Not less than one special education teacher of the pupil, or if appropriate, not less than one special education provider of the pupil.

(4) A representative of the local educational agency who meets all of the following:

(A) Is qualified to provide, or supervise the provision of, specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of individuals with exceptional needs.

(B) Is knowledgeable about the general education curriculum.

(C) Is knowledgeable about the availability of resources of the local educational agency.

(5) An individual who can interpret the instructional implications of the assessment results. The individual may be a member of the team described in paragraphs (2) to (6), inclusive.

(6) At the discretion of the parent, guardian, or the local educational agency, other individuals who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the pupil, including related services personnel, as appropriate. The determination of whether the individual has knowledge or special expertise regarding the pupil shall be made by the party who invites the individual to be a member of the individualized education program team.

(7) Whenever appropriate, the individual with exceptional needs.

(c) In accordance with Sections 300.308 and 300.310 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for a pupil suspected of having a specific learning disability, at least one member of the individualized education program team shall be qualified to conduct individual diagnostic examinations of children, such as a school psychologist, speech-language pathologist, or remedial reading teacher. In accordance with Section 300.310 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, at least one team member shall observe the pupil’s academic performance and behavior in the areas of difficulty in the pupil’s learning environment, including in the regular classroom setting. In the case of a child who is less than schoolage or out of school, a team member shall observe the child in an environment appropriate for a child of that age.

(d) (1) The local educational agency shall invite an individual with exceptional needs to attend his or her individualized education program meeting if a purpose of the meeting will be the consideration of the postsecondary goals for the individual and the needed transition services for the individual to assist the individual in reaching those goals under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 56345.

(2) If the individual with exceptional needs does not attend the individualized education program meeting, the local educational agency shall take steps to ensure that the individual’s preferences and interests are considered.

(3) To the extent appropriate, with the consent of the parents or an individual with exceptional needs who has reached the age of majority, in implementing the requirements of paragraph (1), the local educational agency shall invite a representative of a participating agency that is likely to be responsible for providing or paying for transition services.

(e) A local educational agency may designate another local educational agency member of the individualized education program team to serve also as the representative required pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) if the requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) are met.

(f) A member of the individualized education program team described in paragraphs (2) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (b) shall not be required to attend an individualized education program meeting, in whole or in part, if the parent of the individual with exceptional needs and the local educational agency agree, in writing, that the attendance of the member is not necessary because the member’s area of the curriculum or related services is not being modified or discussed in the meeting.

(g) A member of the individualized education program team described in subdivision (f) may be excused from attending an individualized education program meeting, in whole or in part, when the meeting involves a modification to or discussion of the member’s area of the curriculum or related services, if both of the following occur:

(1) The parent, in writing, and the local educational agency consent to the excusal after conferring with the member.

(2) The member submits, in writing, to the parent and the individualized education program team input into the development of the individualized education program prior to the meeting.

(h) A parent’s agreement under subdivision (f) and consent under subdivision (g) shall be in writing.

(i) In the case of a child who was previously served under Chapter 4.4 (commencing with Section 56425), Early Education for Individuals with Exceptional Needs, or the California Early Intervention Services Act under Title 14 (commencing with Section 95000) of the Government Code, an invitation to the initial individualized education program team meeting shall, at the request of the parent, be sent to the infants and toddlers with disabilities service coordinator, as described in Subchapter III (commencing with Section 1431) of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), or other representatives of the early education or early intervention system to assist with the smooth transition of services.

(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 454, Sec. 17. Effective October 10, 2007.)