ARTICLE 5. Drug Education [51260. - 51269.]

Cal. Education Code - EDC 5.

in effect

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51260. Section 51260.

(a) Instruction shall be given in the elementary and secondary schools by appropriately trained instructors on drug education and the effects of the use of tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, dangerous drugs, as defined in Section 11032 of the Health and Safety Code, and other dangerous substances. For purposes of this chapter, an “appropriately trained instructor” is one who, based upon the determination of the site administrator, demonstrates competencies in interacting in a positive manner with children and youth; demonstrates knowledge of the properties and effects of tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, and dangerous drugs; and who demonstrates skills in conducting affective education, which include methods and techniques for helping children and youth to freely express ideas and opinions in a responsible manner and to gain an awareness of their values as they affect decisions related to drug use and misuse. In grades 1 through 6, instruction on drug education should be conducted in conjunction with courses given on health pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 51210. In grades 7 to 12, inclusive, instruction on drug education shall be conducted in conjunction with courses given on health or in any appropriate area of study pursuant to Section 51220. Such instruction shall be sequential in nature and suited to meet the needs of students at their respective grade level. (b) Services provided under this section shall be in addition to, but shall not be duplicative of, services provided pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 11965) of Part 3 of Division 10.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51261. Section 51261.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 44227 and 44228, the State Board of Education shall not accredit any teacher education institution for teacher certification purposes after the 1972–73 fiscal year unless it offers courses for prospective teachers on drug education and the effects of the use of tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, restricted dangerous drugs, as defined in Section 11032 of the Health and Safety Code, and other dangerous substances. The State Board of Education shall continually reevaluate approved teacher training institutions to insure that programs are in conformance with the intent of this section.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51262. Section 51262.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the use of anabolic steroids to expedite the physical development and to enhance the performance level of secondary school athletes presents a serious health hazard to these student athletes. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this measure that, beginning with the 1987–88 school year, schools be encouraged to include in instruction in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, in science, health, drug abuse, or physical education programs a lesson on the effects of the use of anabolic steroids.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51263. Section 51263.

The State Department of Education shall make available information on model drug and alcohol abuse prevention education programs developed and funded pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 11965) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 10.5 of the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 13860) of Title 6 of Part 4 of the Penal Code, and other public and private sources.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51264. Section 51264.

(a) The State Department of Education shall prepare and distribute to school districts and county offices of education guidelines for incorporating in-service training in gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention for teachers, counselors, athletic directors, school board members, and other educational personnel into the staff development plans of all school districts and county offices of education. (b) The department shall, upon request, assist school districts and county offices of education in developing comprehensive gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention in-service training programs. The department’s information and guidelines, to the maximum extent possible, shall encourage school districts and county offices of education to avoid duplication of effort by sharing resources, adapting or adopting model in-service training programs, developing joint and collaborative programs, and coordinating efforts with existing state staff development programs, county gang violence and drug and alcohol staff development programs, county health departments, county and city law enforcement agencies, and other public and private agencies providing health, drug, alcohol, gang violence prevention, or other related services at the local level. (c) The department shall assist school districts and county offices of education in qualifying for the receipt of federal and state funds to support their gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention in-service training programs. (d) Each school that chooses to utilize the provisions of this article related to in-service training in gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention, is encouraged to develop a single plan to strengthen its gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention efforts. If a school develops or has developed a school improvement plan pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 52010) of Chapter 6 of Part 28, or a school safety plan pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 32280) of Chapter 2.5 of Part 19, it is encouraged to incorporate into that plan, where appropriate, the gang violence and drug and alcohol prevention plan that it has developed. (e) The department shall consult with the Office of Emergency Services regarding gang violence.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51265. Section 51265.

It is the intent of the Legislature that school districts and county offices of education give high priority to gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention in-service training programs, which shall be part of the overall strategy for comprehensive gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention education. “Gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention in-service training” for purposes of this article means the presentation of programs, instruction and curricula that will help educators develop competencies in interacting in a positive manner with children and youth to assist them in developing the positive values, self-esteem, knowledge, and skills to lead productive, gang-free and drug-free lives; develop knowledge of the causes of gang violence and substance abuse, and the properties and effects of tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, and dangerous drugs, including the risk of contracting acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) associated with intravenous drug use; receive training regarding available information and resources concerning gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention as well as antigang and antisubstance abuse crime trends; develop familiarity with teaching social skills and resistance skills to children and youth; and develop skills in conducting effective education, which includes methods and techniques for helping children and youth to freely express ideas and opinions in a responsible manner and to understand the nature and consequences of their decisions as they relate to gang involvement and drug and alcohol abuse.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51266. Section 51266.

(a) The Office of Emergency Services, in collaboration with the State Department of Education, shall develop a model gang violence suppression and substance abuse prevention curriculum for grades 2, 4, and 6. The curriculum for grades 2, 4, and 6 shall be modeled after a similar curriculum that has been developed by the Orange County Office of Education for grades 3, 5, and 7. The Office of Emergency Services, in collaboration with the State Department of Education, may contract with a county office of education for the development of the model curriculum. The model curriculum shall be made available to school districts and county offices of education and shall, at a minimum, provide for each of the following: (1) Lessons for grades 2, 4, and 6 that are aligned with the state curriculum frameworks for history, social science, and English and language arts. (2) Instructional resources that address issues of ethnic diversity and at-promise pupils. (3) The integration of the instructional resources of the Office of Emergency Services and the School/Law Enforcement Partnership in order to support the school curriculum and assist in the alignment of the state curriculum framework. (b) The Office of Emergency Services shall develop an independent evaluation of the pupil outcomes of the model gang violence suppression and substance abuse prevention curriculum program.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51266.5. Section 51266.5.

The Rural Gang Task Force Subcommittee provided for by subdivision (g) of Section 13826.1 of the Penal Code, in collaboration with the Gang Violence Suppression Advisory Committee provided for by subdivision (g) of Section 13826.1 of the Penal Code and the Office of Emergency Services, shall review the model gang violence suppression and substance abuse prevention curriculum for grades 2, 4, and 6, developed pursuant to Section 51266, and identify methods by which the curriculum can best be utilized in rural school settings.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51268. Section 51268.

The State Department of Education shall encourage school districts and county offices of education to avoid duplication of efforts with regard to education programs for the prevention of drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse through the following methods: (a) The sharing of resources. (b) The adaptation or adoption of model programs. (c) The development of joint and collaborative programs. (d) Coordination of the local planning and implementation of state programs with local health, social services, criminal justice, and education agencies and other entities. (e) The use of a single community advisory committee or task force for drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse prevention programs, as an alternative to the creation of a separate group for that purpose under each state or federally funded program.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 51269. Section 51269.

(a) The State Department of Education shall collaborate, to the extent possible, with other state agencies that administer drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse prevention education programs to streamline and simplify the process whereby local educational agencies apply for state and federal drug, alcohol, and tobacco education funds. (b) The State Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Justice, Office of Emergency Services, the State Department of Public Health, and the State Department of Health Care Services, shall develop, to the extent possible, an ongoing statewide monitoring and assessment system to provide current and reliable data on the utilization of resources for programs for prevention of and early intervention for drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse. The purpose of the system shall be to facilitate improved planning and program delivery among state and local agencies, including law enforcement, juvenile justice, county health, and county drug and alcohol agencies and programs, and communities.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026