(a)

1. (1) The Legislature finds and declares that, given the effects of public health emergencies and the significant and growing number of natural disasters that the state has faced in recent years, there is an increased need for local educational agencies to provide instructional continuity for pupils when conditions make in-person instruction infeasible for all or some pupils, and that maintaining access to instruction during a natural disaster or emergency is crucial in mitigating the negative impacts of lost learning time and supporting pupil mental health.
2. (2) It is the intent of the Legislature that all local educational agencies have plans in place to keep pupils learning in the event of school closures or absences, especially by being prepared to shift to online or other remote learning options, if necessary. While the first priority will always be to get pupils back to in-person instruction as quickly as possible following a natural disaster or other emergency event, schools should have the infrastructure in place to move instruction online, or otherwise deliver curriculum remotely, and ensure that pupils can access that instruction at short notice. Best practices like including independent study program agreements in back-to-school paperwork provided pursuant to Section 48980 for parents to sign ahead of time, posting assignments and pupil academic resources online, assigning laptops to all pupils, developing emergency partnerships with neighboring local educational agencies, and maintaining an online instructional platform can help local educational agencies be better prepared to shift to remote learning options if the need arises.

(b) For affidavits submitted to the Superintendent for events occurring after September 1, 2021, but on or before June 30, 2026, that resulted in a school closure or material decrease in attendance, a school district, county office of education, or charter school that provides an affidavit to the Superintendent, pursuant to Section 41422 or 46392, shall certify that it has a plan for which independent study will be offered to pupils, pursuant to Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 51745) of Chapter 5 of Part 28 of Division 4. The plan shall comply with all of the following:

1. (1) Independent study is offered to any pupil impacted by any of the conditions listed in Section 46392 within 10 instructional days of the first day of a school closure or material decrease in attendance. Pupils who are individuals with exceptional needs shall receive the services identified in their individualized education programs pursuant to paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) of Section 56345 and may participate in an independent study program.
2. (2) Require reopening for in-person instruction as soon as possible unless prohibited under the direction of the local or state health officer.
3. (3) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 51745 or subparagraph (F) of paragraph (9) of subdivision (g) of Section 51747, include information regarding establishing independent study master agreements in a reasonable amount of time.

(e)

1. (1) For affidavits submitted to the Superintendent for events occurring on or after July 1, 2026, that result in a school closure or material decrease in attendance, a school district, county office of education, or charter school that provides an affidavit to the Superintendent, pursuant to Section 41422 or 46392, shall certify all of the following:

   1. (A) It has a local governing board- or body-adopted comprehensive school safety plan in place meeting the requirements of Section 32282, including the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 32282.

   2. (B) Either of the following:

      1. (i) It has offered pupil engagement and instruction consistent with paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 32282.
      2. (ii) Due to extenuating circumstances, it has not provided pupil engagement and instruction consistent with paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 32282. A school district, county office of education, or charter school that certifies pursuant to this clause shall describe the circumstances that prevented it from providing pupil engagement and instruction and shall describe what pupil engagement, services, and instruction it did provide to support its pupils during or immediately after the period of closure or material decrease in attendance.
2. (2) If applicable, a copy of the state or local public health or public safety order that required school closure shall accompany the affidavit provided to the Superintendent described in paragraph (1).