School District Sues State for Special Services

The Long Beach Unified School District on Wednesday filed a $10-million lawsuit against the state of California, seeking reimbursement for the cost of providing certain special education services over the past 19 years.

The claim, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, has to do with services to disabled children between 3 and 5, and to young adults who are between 18 and 21. Currently the district serves about 800 people in those two age groups who are deaf, blind, autistic or have other disabilities.

Spokesman Dick Van Der Laan said the district is not disputing the need for the services, which are mandatory under state and federal law. But, he said, since they are state requirements, the state should bear the cost. Long Beach, along with other school districts, has been battling the state for years over this issue.

If Long Beach wins its case, the state could be required to repay all school districts in the state for similar costs. The Davis administration has agreed to negotiate a settlement in a similar case, which claims school districts statewide are owed nearly $2 billion.

“The free ride is over,” Van Der Laan said. “We cannot afford to pay for this and balance the budget each year on the backs of children while the state accumulates record surpluses.”