SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today released the following statement on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's signing of AB 152 by Assembly member Lloyd Levine, sponsored by O'Connell:

"I applaud the Governor for signing AB 152," O'Connell said. "By reducing discrepancies in state and federal law, AB 152 will pave the way for California to receive its entire share of $1.2 billion in federal special education funds in 2004-05.

"The signing of AB 152 will help facilitate greater understanding of the complex federal special education laws," O'Connell added.

The measure conforms the Education Code to the remaining federal requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It puts California in compliance with IDEA in the areas of individual education plans, parental consent, assessment, placements, transition, confidentiality of records, local education area plans, due process hearings, and mediations.