Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions set forth in this article govern the construction of this chapter and Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 35700).
Article 2Definitions
Section § 35510
This section means that the definitions found in the current article are used to interpret the rules and regulations in this chapter as well as the next chapter starting with Section 35700, unless the situation clearly demands a different interpretation.
definitions interpretation rules contextual meaning Chapter 4 Section 35700 construction article definitions governing unless context requires chapter interpretation
Section § 35511
This section defines what it means to "reorganize districts" in the context of schools. It involves creating new school districts through various methods, such as combining or splitting existing districts. This can include forming a new district by dissolving several current ones, creating new districts from parts of current ones, or unifying different types of districts into a singular entity. It also involves deunifying districts, which means breaking up a unified district into multiple new ones. Additionally, reorganizing districts can include transferring land from one school district to another.
An “action to reorganize districts” means either of the following:
(a)CA Education Code § 35511(a) An action to form a new school district, which is accomplished through any of, or any combination of, the following:
(1)CA Education Code § 35511(a)(1) Dissolving two or more existing school districts of the same kind and forming one or more new school districts of that same kind from the entire territory of the original districts.
(2)CA Education Code § 35511(a)(2) Forming one or more new school districts of the same kind from all or parts of one or more existing school districts of that same kind.
(3)CA Education Code § 35511(a)(3) Unifying school districts, including the
consolidation of all or part of one or more high school districts with all or part of one or more component school districts into one or more new unified school districts.
(4)CA Education Code § 35511(a)(4) Deunifying a school district, including the conversion of all or part of a unified school district into one or more new high school districts, each with two or more new component districts.
(b)CA Education Code § 35511(b) An action to transfer territory, including the transfer of all or part of an existing school district to another existing school district.
reorganize districts new school district dissolving districts unifying districts deunifying districts transfer territory high school districts component districts territory transfer school district consolidation district formation district conversion existing school district unified school districts school district boundaries
Section § 35512
This section defines what a 'county committee' means within the context of school district organization. It can refer to either the county committee on school district organization or the county board of education, depending on how they are structured and function according to specific articles in the law.
“County committee” means the county committee on school district organization, organized and acting as provided for in Article 1 (commencing with Section 4000) of Chapter 1 of Part 3, or the county board of education, organized and acting as provided for in Article 2 (commencing with Section 4020) of Chapter 1 of Part 3.
county committee school district organization county board of education Article 1 Section 4000 Chapter 1 Part 3 Article 2 Section 4020
Section § 35513
This law clarifies that when the term “districts of the same kind” is used, it refers to elementary school districts, high school districts, or unified school districts being grouped respectively with their own type.
For the purposes of any reference in this chapter to “districts of the same kind,” all elementary school districts are districts of the same kind, all high school districts are districts of the same kind, and all unified school districts are districts of the same kind.
elementary school districts high school districts unified school districts districts of the same kind school district classification education district grouping school types district categorization elementary high school unified district definition
Section § 35514
This section defines various terms related to changes in the organization of school districts, such as when a district merges with another or its boundaries change. An "affected district" is any school district impacted by these changes. It includes terms like "original district," which is how a district was before any changes, "new district," a district formed from parts of other districts following a reorganization, and "acquiring district," which absorbs other district territories. A "former district" is fully absorbed into another. "Divided district" refers to one that had a portion split off into a new or existing district. Lastly, "reorganized district" can include any new, acquiring, or divided district.
As used in this chapter and in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 35700):
(a)CA Education Code § 35514(a) “Affected district” means a school district that has been, or is proposed to be, affected by an action to reorganize pursuant to Section 35511 or by an action to lapse a school district pursuant to Section 35780.1. Affected districts include all of the following school district types:
(1)CA Education Code § 35514(a)(1) “Original district” means a school district as it existed before an action to reorganize pursuant to Section 35511 or before an action to lapse a school district pursuant to Section 35780.1. The boundaries of an “original district” are those of the school district as it existed immediately before the action to reorganize
or lapse.
(2)CA Education Code § 35514(a)(2) “Former district” means a school district that has been wholly included in another school district, or has had all of its territory made part of two or more other school districts, through any action taken pursuant to Section 35511 or through a lapsation pursuant to Section 35780.1. The boundaries of a former district are those of the school district as it existed immediately before an action to reorganize or lapse.
(3)CA Education Code § 35514(a)(3) “New district” means a school district that is formed from all or portions of one or more other school districts by an action to reorganize taken pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 35511. A new district does not exist before such an action.
(4)CA Education Code § 35514(a)(4) “Acquiring district” means a school district that has all or portions of one or more other school districts transferred into, or lapsed into,
its boundaries pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 35511 or Section 35780.1.
(5)CA Education Code § 35514(a)(5) “Divided district” means a school district that has had a portion of its territory become part of a new school district or transferred into one or more other school districts by an action to reorganize taken pursuant to Section 35511.
(A)CA Education Code § 35514(a)(5)(A) The “reorganized portion of a divided district” means the portion of the divided school district’s territory that becomes part of a new school district or is transferred into one or more other school districts.
(B)CA Education Code § 35514(a)(5)(B) The “remaining portion of a divided district” means the portion of the divided school district’s territory that does not become part of a new school district or that is not transferred into one or more other school districts.
(6)CA Education Code § 35514(a)(6) “Reorganized district” means a school district that is a “new district,” an “acquiring district,” or a “divided district.”
(b)CA Education Code § 35514(b) “Districts” means school districts of every kind or class.
affected district original district former district new district acquiring district divided district reorganized district school district reorganization territory transfer reorganized portion remaining portion
Section § 35515
In this section, a "component district" is defined as an elementary school district that is part of a high school district. It can also refer to an elementary district that isn't part of a unification of a high school district but still sends its students to the high schools of the newly unified district as specified in another law section.
“Component district” means an elementary school district that is included within a high school district or an elementary school district that is excluded from an action to unify a high school district but that continues to feed into the high schools of the new unified school district pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 35542.
component district elementary school district high school district unified school district school district unification feeding into high schools California education system school district boundaries District unification actions Section 35542 subdivision (b)
Section § 35517
In this context, "uninhabited territory" is defined as an area where fewer than 12 people are registered to vote 54 days before a school district boundary change is proposed or decided upon.
“Uninhabited territory” means territory in which fewer than 12 persons are registered to vote at least 54 days before the time of filing of a petition or adoption of a resolution for a school district boundary change.
uninhabited territory registered voters school district boundary change petition resolution territory population voter registration district boundary change fewer than 12 persons 54 days period voting requirement proposal timing adoption of resolution school district petition
