Intended to provide an orientation to special education under the jurisdiction of the California State Department of Education, the publication presents a summary of the status of special education in California and an overview of provisions made to serve children with physical, mental, and emotional exceptionalities. The history of special education in California is briefly summarized and the functions of the Division of Special Education are reviewed. Described are the system of five state special schools and the three following bureaus through which the Division works to carry out its programs: Bureau for Mentally Exceptional Children, Bureau for Physically Exceptional Children, and Bureau for Educational Improvement for Handicapped Children. General administrative and statistical information on special education programs is reported, as are the state financial support of special education in 1969-1970 and certain specialized activities and projects. (KW)