MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Welcome to the 2015-16 school year for new and returning students and their families. We look forward to a great year ahead as we offer our skills and resources to serve families who educate their children at home. Our unique learning approach addresses the whole child. We take the skills, interests, abilities, and learning styles of each student and forge a personalized learning plan that will best meet their needs. We are proud of our dedication to this philosophy and know that in many ways it is on the “cutting edge” of where education is going in the 21st century.
One of the biggest topics in California education right now is the new SB 277 law known as the “Immunization Mandate Law.” There have been lots of questions and concerns about how it will affect students in general and also how it will affect students at Pathways. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions:
Q: What exactly is the immunization law about?
A: On June 30, 2015, Governor Jerry Brown signed California bill SB 277 into law. This law eliminates the personal belief exemption to the immunization requirements for all public and private school students in California under the Health and Safety Code Section 120325(c). SB 277 maintains an exemption to the vaccine requirements for students who have medical necessity.
Q: When does it become law?
A: SB 277 will be phased-in starting January 1, 2016. There will be no changes to student immunization requirements at Pathways for the 2015-16 school year.
Q: How will it be enacted?
A. Under the new law, vaccinations will be required of children first entering public school, or when they enter the seventh grade, after July 1, 2016. However, this law also provides a physician with authority to grant a medical exemption to the vaccination requirement when a physician believes that medical circumstances of the child, in her judgment and discretion, warrant such an exemption. The statute specifically states that the physician may consider the child's family medical history in determining whether to grant the exemption.
Q: What does this mean for Pathways students?
A: Students who are privately homeschooled or who are enrolled in independent study public schools such as Pathways are exempt from the regulations of SB 277. However, the law goes on to state that the exemption applies to independent study students if the students do not receive classroom-based instruction. However, the law does not specifically define whether attending “classes” as part of an independent study program constitutes participation in "classroom-based" instruction for the purpose of this exemption. This issue has yet to be settled.
Q: So if I file a Personal Belief Exemption for my child, can he/she attend site classes offered at Pathways or not?
A: As mentioned above, there will be no changes for this year. As to next year, we just don’t know the answer to this yet. We are working hard to make this exemption apply to students who attend site classes at Pathways. We understand that the Department of Health will be providing guidance on SB 277 in the coming months. As soon as we know, we will share the information with everyone.
Q: Does this affect my child’s IEP? The passage of SB 277 does not prohibit a student who qualifies for an Individualized Education Plan from accessing any special education and related services required by his/her Individualized Education program. Therefore, a student’s IEP that designates attendance in certain site classes will allow the student to attend such classes regardless of their vaccination status.
If you have any further questions about this new law, please contact me at 707-585-6513, or email me at [email protected]
Have a great year!