(a)
Each special education local plan area shall submit to the superintendent at least annually information, in a form and manner prescribed by the superintendent and developed in consultation with the special education local plan areas, in order for the superintendent to carry out the evaluation responsibilities pursuant to Section 56602. This information shall include other statistical data, program information, and fiscal information that the superintendent may require. The superintendent shall use this information to answer questions from the Legislature and other state and federal agencies on program, policy, and fiscal issues of statewide interest.
(b)
In order to assist the state in evaluating the effectiveness of special education programs, including transition and work experience programs, the superintendent is authorized to collect and utilize social security numbers of individuals with exceptional needs as pupil identification numbers beginning in the 1993–94 fiscal year and phased in over a two-year period. In a situation where a social security number is not available, the superintendent shall assign another student identification number for purposes of evaluating special education programs and related services. The superintendent shall not disclose personally identifiable, individual pupil records to any person, institution, agency, or organization except as authorized by Section 1232g of Title 20 of the United States Code and Part 99 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations.