Section § 35290

Explanation

This rule says that the people in charge of a school district must keep their schools and classes running in accordance with the law.

The governing board of any school district shall maintain schools and classes as provided by law.

Section § 35291

Explanation

This law says that school districts in California must set their own rules for managing and disciplining students, as long as these rules follow state laws and guidelines. They should also inform parents or guardians about these rules at certain times, according to laws that specify how and when this notification should occur.

The governing board of any school district shall prescribe rules not inconsistent with law or with the rules prescribed by the State Board of Education, for the government and discipline of the schools under its jurisdiction. The governing board of each school district which maintains any of grades 1 through 12, inclusive, may, at the time and in the manner prescribed by Sections 48980 and 48981, notify the parent or guardian of all pupils registered in schools of the district of the availability of rules of the district pertaining to student discipline.

Section § 35291.5

Explanation

Each public school in California, by choice, can create and update their own discipline rules every four years, in line with board policies and state laws. Parents, teachers, administrators, security personnel, and students (for middle and high schools) must all be involved in this process. These meetings need to happen during regular school hours and within school resources. Final discipline rules are set by the principal and a teacher representative. Every school staff member must enforce these rules. The school district's board may also establish ways to notify students and parents about these rules each year, and schools can submit their discipline rules to the district superintendent. The school board may also review these rules to ensure they align with broader policies and state laws.

(a)CA Education Code § 35291.5(a) On or before December 1, 1987, and at least every four years thereafter, each public school may, at its discretion, adopt rules and procedures on school discipline applicable to the school. For schools that choose to adopt rules pursuant to this article, the school discipline rules and procedures shall be consistent with any applicable policies adopted by the governing board and state statutes governing school discipline. In developing these rules and procedures, each school shall solicit the participation, views, and advice of one representative selected by each of the following groups:
(1)CA Education Code § 35291.5(a)(1) Parents.
(2)CA Education Code § 35291.5(a)(2) Teachers.
(3)CA Education Code § 35291.5(a)(3) School administrators.
(4)CA Education Code § 35291.5(a)(4) School security personnel, if any.
(5)CA Education Code § 35291.5(a)(5) For junior high schools and high schools, pupils enrolled in the school.
Meetings for the development of the rules and procedures should be developed and held within the school’s existing resources, during nonclassroom hours, and on normal schooldays.
The final version of the rules and procedures on school discipline with attendant regulations may be adopted by a panel comprised of the principal of the school, or his or her designee, and a representative selected by classroom teachers employed at the school.
It shall be the duty of each employee of the school to enforce the rules and procedures on school discipline adopted under this section.
(b)CA Education Code § 35291.5(b) The governing board of each school district may prescribe procedures to provide written notice to continuing pupils at the beginning of each school year and to transfer pupils at the time of their enrollment in the school and to their parents or guardians regarding the school discipline rules and procedures adopted pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c)CA Education Code § 35291.5(c) Each school may file a copy of its school discipline rules and procedures with the district superintendent of schools and governing board on or before January 1, 1988.
(d)CA Education Code § 35291.5(d) The governing board may review, at an open meeting, the approved school discipline rules and procedures for consistency with governing board policy and state statutes.

Section § 35291.7

Explanation
Schools can't hire extra staff or use substitute teachers just to meet certain regulations about creating and enforcing school rules.
Additional employees may not be hired and substitute teachers may not be utilized in order to comply with the requirements of Sections 35291 and 35291.5.

Section § 35292

Explanation

This law requires that the governing board of a school district must visit each school in their area at least once per term. During these visits, they should closely assess how the schools are managed, what the schools need, and their overall condition. If the district has a superintendent, the board can either conduct these visits themselves or ensure that the superintendent or their assistants carry out these visits.

The governing board of any school district shall visit each school in its district at least once each term, and examine carefully into the management, needs, and conditions of the schools. In any school district which employs district or city superintendents of schools, it shall either visit the schools or provide that they shall be visited by the district or city superintendent of schools or his assistants.

Section § 35292.5

Explanation

This law requires all public and private schools in California, from kindergarten through 12th grade, to maintain clean and fully stocked restrooms. During school hours, restrooms must be kept open for students to use when they aren't in class, and enough restrooms must remain open during class times. By July 1, 2026, schools with more than one restroom for each gender must provide at least one all-gender restroom, clearly marked and accessible to all students. Schools must appoint someone to ensure these rules are followed and display a notice about the all-gender restroom rules prominently. Schools can use existing bathrooms to meet these requirements if they adhere to the standards. The use of all-gender restrooms is voluntary for students. Schools can temporarily close restrooms if there are safety issues or necessary repairs.

(a)CA Education Code § 35292.5(a) Every public and private school maintaining any combination of classes from kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, shall comply with all of the following:
(1)CA Education Code § 35292.5(a)(1) Every restroom shall at all times be maintained and cleaned regularly, fully operational, and stocked at all times with toilet paper, soap, and paper towels or functional hand dryers.
(2)CA Education Code § 35292.5(a)(2) The school shall keep all restrooms open during school hours when pupils are not in classes, and shall keep a sufficient number of restrooms open during school hours when pupils are in classes.
(b)Copy CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)
(1)Copy CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(1) On or before July 1, 2026, each school district, county office of education, and charter school, including charter schools operating in a school district facility pursuant to Section 47614, maintaining any combination of classes from grades 1 to 12, inclusive, shall comply with the following for each of its schoolsites that, before July 1, 2026, has more than one female restroom and more than one male restroom designated exclusively for pupil use, excluding restrooms designated for pupils in transitional kindergarten or kindergarten:
(A)CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(1)(A) Provide and maintain at least one all-gender restroom for pupil use that meets the following requirements:
(i)CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(1)(A)(i) Has signage identifying the bathroom facility as being open to all genders and in conformity with Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.
(ii)CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(1)(A)(ii) Is available for pupil use, consistent with the requirements of subdivision (a), as unlocked, unobstructed, easily accessible by any pupil, and consistent with existing pupil access to sex-segregated restrooms.
(iii)CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(1)(A)(iii) Is consistent with the requirements pursuant to Section 35292.6.
(iv)CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(1)(A)(iv) Is available during school hours and school functions when pupils are present.
(B)CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(1)(B) Designate a staff member to serve as a point of contact for implementation of this section.
(C)CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(1)(C) Post a notice regarding the requirements of this paragraph in a prominent and conspicuous location outside at least one all-gender restroom, including contact information for the person designated as a point of contact pursuant to subparagraph (B).
(2)CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(2) A school district, county office of education, or charter school may use an existing restroom to satisfy the requirements of this subdivision if it ensures that all pupils have restrooms that are in easily accessible locations and the existing restroom otherwise complies with the requirements in paragraph (1).
(3)CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(3) This subdivision shall be subject to compliance review pursuant to Section 253.
(4)CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(4) The department shall post on its internet website guidance for implementation of this subdivision, including, but not limited to, examples of signage and best practices.
(5)CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(5) This subdivision shall not supplant subdivision (f) of Section 221.5. Use of an all-gender restroom by a pupil shall be voluntary and pupils shall not be required to use an all-gender restroom.
(6)CA Education Code § 35292.5(b)(6) This subdivision shall not preclude a schoolsite that does not have more than one female restroom and more than one male restroom designated exclusively for pupil use, excluding restrooms designated for pupils in transitional kindergarten or kindergarten, from identifying and making easily accessible, a restroom for pupil use that satisfies the requirements of this subdivision.
(c)CA Education Code § 35292.5(c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), a school may temporarily close a restroom as necessary (1) for a documented pupil safety concern, (2) for an immediate threat to pupil safety, or (3) to repair the facility.

Section § 35292.6

Explanation

By the start of the 2024-25 school year, all public schools in California that have classes from grades 3 to 12 need to keep restrooms stocked with free menstrual products. This includes all women's restrooms, all-gender restrooms, and at least one men's restroom. Schools cannot charge for these products and must put up a notice in every restroom to inform about this requirement. This notice should include the law text and contact info for who to reach out to if there's a supply issue. The products referred to are menstrual pads and tampons, and the law goes into effect on July 1, 2024.

(a)CA Education Code § 35292.6(a) On or before the start of the 2024–25 school year, a public school, including a school operated by a school district, county office of education, or charter school, maintaining any combination of classes from grades 3 to 12, inclusive, shall stock the school’s restrooms at all times with an adequate supply of menstrual products, available and accessible, free of cost, in all women’s restrooms and all-gender restrooms, and in at least one men’s restroom.
(b)CA Education Code § 35292.6(b) A public school described in subdivision (a) shall not charge for any menstrual products provided to pupils.
(c)CA Education Code § 35292.6(c) A public school described in subdivision (a) shall post a notice regarding the requirements of this section in a prominent and conspicuous location in every restroom required to stock menstrual products, available and accessible, free of cost, pursuant to this section. This notice shall include the text of this section and contact information, including an email address and telephone number, for a designated individual responsible for maintaining the requisite supply of menstrual products.
(d)CA Education Code § 35292.6(d) For purposes of this section, “menstrual products” means menstrual pads and tampons for use in connection with the menstrual cycle.
(e)CA Education Code § 35292.6(e) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2024.

Section § 35293

Explanation

This law requires school district boards to make sure all elementary and high schools they manage have the same opportunities and treatment, as much as possible.

The governing board of any school district shall maintain all of the elementary day schools established by it, and all of the day high schools established by it with equal rights and privileges as far as possible.