Admission Criteria

California School for the Blind Admission Criteria

The California School for the Blind (CSB) serves students ages 5-22 who have a vision loss which severely affects their ability to access the general education or alternative curriculum and causes difficulty to such an extent that it adversely affects their educational performance requiring the services of personnel trained to work with blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind children. Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams consider referring a blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind student to CSB when an appropriate educational program and related services cannot be provided in a less restrictive environment within the student's local public schools.

Eligibility to attend CSB is defined within the California Code of Regulations. Eligibility criteria are listed below.

California Code of Regulations
Title 5. Education

§ 17666. Eligibility for Enrollment in CSB's Day Program

Applicants may be considered for admission if they can demonstrate they will benefit educationally from the CSB instructional program by showing:

1. (a) Applicant demonstrates that his or her primary educational needs are related to a severe sensory loss such that it affects the pupil's ability to access the general education or alternative curriculum.
2. (b) The ability to attend to non-visual stimuli.
3. (c) The ability to benefit from disability-specific instruction, as demonstrated by the following:
   1. (1) Potential to learn Braille, potential to use low vision aids;
   2. (2) Potential to benefit from expanded core curriculum instruction; and
   3. (3) Potential to benefit from adaptations to the environment.
4. (d) The ability to learn simple mobility patterns and routes around campus, as demonstrated by the following:
   1. (1) The potential to use the white cane;
   2. (2) The potential to orient self in space;
   3. (3) The potential to learn own body and body parts; and
   4. (4) The potential to learn concepts of directionality.
5. (e) Applicant demonstrates the ability to access the general education or alternative curriculum with reasonable accommodations without requiring a fundamental alteration of the educational program of CSB.

Note: Authority cited: Section 59020, Education Code. Reference: Sections 56350 and 56352, Education Code.

§ 17667. Eligibility for Enrollment in CSB's Residential Program

Applicants eligible for CSB's day program are not automatically enrolled into the residential program. Enrollment into CSB's residential program is a separate and distinct consideration even for a pupil currently enrolled in CSB's day program. An applicant who meets the criteria established by section 17666 may also be admitted into CSB's residential program, if CSB determines:

1. (a) The applicant resides beyond a 60-minute commute each way between home and CSB using transportation the Local Educational Agency (LEA) provides for day pupils.
2. (b) The applicant has the ability to respond independently and appropriately to life-threatening situations.
3. (c) The responsible local school district and parent/guardian have approved the applicant's placement in the residential program.
4. (d) The applicant does not have a history of un-rehabilitated behavior that poses a threat to themselves and/or others, including but not limited to substance abuse, fire-starting, sexually predatory behavior or assault.

Note: Authority cited: Section 59020, Education Code. Reference: Section 59020, Education Code.

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Still have questions about eligibility to attend CSB?
Feel free to contact:

Jennifer Simmons, 510-936-5522, jsimmons@csb-cde.ca.gov or

Carla Shah, 510-936-5623, cshah@csb-cde.ca.gov.