ARTICLE 1. Rights and Duties [44800. - 44824.]

Cal. Education Code - EDC 1.
in effect

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44800. Section 44800.

Every person employed by a school district as a probationary or permanent employee in a position requiring certification qualifications who enters the active military service of the United States of America or of the State of California, including active service in any uniformed auxiliary of, or to, any branch of such military service, created or authorized as such auxiliary by the Congress of the United States of America or by the Legislature of the State of California, or in the service of the United States Merchant Marine, or in full-time paid service of the American Red Cross, during any period of national emergency declared by the President of the United States of America or during any war in which the United States of America is engaged, shall be entitled to absent himself from his duties as an employee of the district. Such absence shall not affect in any way the classification of such employee. In the case of a probationary employee, the period of such absence shall not count as part of the service required as a condition precedent to the classification of such employee as a permanent employee of the district, but such absence shall not be construed as a break in the continuity of the service of such employee for any purpose. The dismissal or termination of any probationary employee because of reduced attendance due to war conditions, after his entry into the active military service or service in the American Red Cross, shall not deprive him of any of the benefits of this section. Within six months after such employee honorably leaves such service or has been placed on inactive duty he shall, subject to the provisions of this section, be entitled to return to the position held by him at the time of his entrance into such service, at the salary to which he would have been entitled had he not absented himself from the service of the school district under this section. If such employee was employed under a lawful contract for a period in excess of one year in a position in which he had not become a permanent employee of the district, he shall be entitled to return to such position for the period his contract of employment had to run at the time he entered such service. Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a person employed to take the place of any such employee shall not have any right to such position following the return of such employee to the position.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44801. Section 44801.

Every person employed by a school district as a permanent employee in a position requiring certification qualifications who is elected to the Legislature shall be granted a leave of absence from his duties as an employee of the district by the governing board of the district. During the term of such leave of absence, the employee may be employed by the school district to perform such less than full-time service requiring certification qualifications, for such compensation and upon such terms and conditions, as may be mutually agreed upon. Such absence shall not affect in any way the classification of such employee. Within six months after the term of office of such employee expires he shall be entitled to return to the position held by him at the time of his election, at the salary to which he would have been entitled had he not absented himself from the service of the school district under this section. Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a person employed to take the place of any such employee shall not have any right to such position following the return of such employee to the position. This section shall apply to any permanent certificated school district employee who held the office of Member of the Assembly or State Senator on or after January 4, 1965.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44802. Section 44802.

The governing board of any school district may provide for the payment of the actual and necessary traveling expenses of student teachers of vocational agriculture who hold certificates issued pursuant to Section 44292 when performing the duties of their positions. All payments heretofore made to student teachers of vocational agriculture on account of actual and necessary traveling expenses incurred by them when performing the duties of their respective positions are hereby confirmed, ratified, and validated.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44803. Section 44803.

Every probationary employee of a school district which becomes in its entirety a part of a unified school district and every probationary employee of a school district employed in a school located in a portion of a school district which becomes a part of a unified school district, where the whole of the district does not become a part of a unified school district, shall become a probationary employee of the unified school district. The service of the probationary employee in the annexed district shall be considered as service in the unified school district for the purpose of any law relating to the classification of persons employed in school districts in positions requiring certification qualifications.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44805. Section 44805.

Every teacher in the public schools shall enforce the course of study, the use of legally authorized textbooks, and the rules and regulations prescribed for schools.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44806. Section 44806.

As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply: (a) “Institution of higher education” has the same meaning as used in Section 44203. (b) “Regionally accredited” has the same meaning as used in Section 44203.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44807. Section 44807.

Every teacher in the public schools shall hold pupils to a strict account for their conduct on the way to and from school, on the playgrounds, or during recess. A teacher, vice principal, principal, or any other certificated employee of a school district, shall not be subject to criminal prosecution or criminal penalties for the exercise, during the performance of his duties, of the same degree of physical control over a pupil that a parent would be legally privileged to exercise but which in no event shall exceed the amount of physical control reasonably necessary to maintain order, protect property, or protect the health and safety of pupils, or to maintain proper and appropriate conditions conducive to learning. The provisions of this section are in addition to and do not supersede the provisions of Section 49000.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44808. Section 44808.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, no school district, city or county board of education, county superintendent of schools, or any officer or employee of such district or board shall be responsible or in any way liable for the conduct or safety of any pupil of the public schools at any time when such pupil is not on school property, unless such district, board, or person has undertaken to provide transportation for such pupil to and from the school premises, has undertaken a school-sponsored activity off the premises of such school, has otherwise specifically assumed such responsibility or liability or has failed to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances. In the event of such a specific undertaking, the district, board, or person shall be liable or responsible for the conduct or safety of any pupil only while such pupil is or should be under the immediate and direct supervision of an employee of such district or board.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44808.5. Section 44808.5.

The governing board of a school district may permit the pupils enrolled at any high school to leave the school grounds during the lunch period of such pupils. Neither the school district nor any officer or employee thereof shall be liable for the conduct or safety of any pupil during such time as the pupil has left the school grounds pursuant to this section. In the event that the governing board grants such permission, it shall send the following notice along with the notification of parents and guardians required by Section 48980: “The governing board of the ____ School District, pursuant to Section 44808.5 of the Education Code, has decided to permit the pupils enrolled at ____ High School to leave the school grounds during the lunch period. “Section 44808.5 of the Education Code further states: “‛ Neither the school district nor any officer or employee thereof shall be liable for the conduct or safety of any pupil during such time as the pupil has left the school grounds pursuant to this section.”’

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44809. Section 44809.

(a) A state school register shall be kept by every teacher in the public elementary schools, except a teacher in: (1) A school in which the state school register of each teacher is kept on behalf of the teacher in a central office by an employee of the school district. (2) A school in which a central file of individual records of pupil enrollment, absence, and attendance is maintained on forms containing at least the minimum items of information prescribed by the State Department of Education, and whose principal submits periodic reports of pupil personnel data to the city or district superintendent of schools, or, if no superintendent is employed in the district, to the county superintendent of schools on forms approved by the State Department of Education. (b) There shall be recorded in each state school register the absence and attendance of each pupil enrolled in the classes taught by the teacher keeping the register or on whose behalf the register is kept and any additional information required by the State Department of Education.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44810. Section 44810.

(a) Every minor over 16 years of age or adult who is not a pupil of the school, including but not limited to any such minor or adult who is the parent or guardian of a pupil of the school, who comes upon any school ground or into any schoolhouse and there willfully interferes with the discipline, good order, lawful conduct, or administration of any school class or activity of the school, with the intent to disrupt, obstruct, or to inflict damage to property or bodily injury upon any person, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (b) A violation of subdivision (a) shall be punished as follows: (1) Upon the first conviction, by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by both the fine and imprisonment. (2) Upon a second conviction, by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not less than 10 days, and not more than one year, or by both imprisonment and a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000). The defendant shall not be released on probation, or for any other basis until he or she has served not less than 10 days in a county jail. (3) Upon a third or subsequent conviction, by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not less than 90 days, and not more than one year, or by both imprisonment and a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000). The defendant shall not be released on probation, or for any other basis until he or she has served not less than 90 days in a county jail. (4) Upon a showing of good cause, the court may find that for any mandatory minimum imprisonment specified by paragraph (2) or (3) of this subdivision, the imprisonment shall not be imposed, and the court may grant probation, or the suspension of the execution or imposition of the sentence.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44811. Section 44811.

(a) Any parent, guardian, or other person whose conduct in a place where a school employee is required to be in the course of his or her duties materially disrupts classwork or extracurricular activities or involves substantial disorder is guilty of a misdemeanor. (b) A violation of subdivision (a) shall be punished as follows: (1) Upon the first conviction, by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by both the fine and imprisonment. (2) Upon a second conviction, by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not less than 10 days, and not more than one year, or by both imprisonment and a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000). The defendant shall not be released on probation, or for any other basis until he or she has served not less than 10 days in a county jail. (3) Upon a third or subsequent conviction, by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not less than 90 days, and not more than one year, or by both imprisonment and a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000). The defendant shall not be released on probation, or for any other basis until he or she has served not less than 90 days in a county jail. (4) Upon a showing of good cause, the court may find that for any mandatory minimum imprisonment specified by paragraph (2) or (3) of this subdivision, the imprisonment shall not be imposed, and the court may grant probation, or the suspension of the execution or imposition of the sentence. (c) This section shall not apply to any otherwise lawful employee concerted activity, including, but not limited to, picketing and the distribution of handbills.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44813. Section 44813.

The governing board of every school district shall allow each teacher employed for full time in any regular day school in which two or more teachers are employed, one duty-free lunch period each day in the manner and at the time prescribed by regulation of the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations fixing the duration of the duty-free lunch period of certificated employees of school districts, the time of day when the lunch period shall be granted, and prescribing the conditions under which the duty-free lunch period shall be allowed.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44814. Section 44814.

Recognizing that an adequate lunch period free from duty is essential to the health, morale and efficiency of teachers employed full time in any regular day school, the Legislature declares that it is the policy of the state to encourage school districts to provide for an adequate duty-free lunch period for teachers. In order to provide for such duty-free lunch periods, the governing board of any school district may utilize recreation personnel or other suitable persons to supervise the pupils of the district during the school lunch period. The provisions of this section shall prevail over any provision of Section 44813 which conflicts herewith.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44815. Section 44815.

The governing board of any school district may also utilize persons not having certification qualifications to supervise the pupils of the district during any breakfast period or other nutrition period. The compensation of such personnel may be paid from funds from which the compensation of personnel employed under Section 44814 may be paid.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44816. Section 44816.

Except in districts exempted by the Department of Education and in which regular periodic reports of pupil and employee personnel data are submitted by the principal of each school to the city or district superintendent of schools, or, if no superintendent is employed in the district, to the county superintendent of schools on forms approved by the Department of Education, every teacher in the public elementary schools shall at the close of school during each school year make an annual report to the principal of the school in which he is employed; or, in the case of one-teacher schools, to the city or district superintendent of schools, or, if no superintendent is employed, to the county superintendent of schools on forms furnished by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Any teacher who is teaching in any school at the close of school shall, in his annual report, include all statistics for the entire school year. Where one teacher is in charge of a class and keeps the records thereof, assistant teachers or other teachers of the class or any of the pupils thereof who are required to keep no records shall not be required to render reports. The city, district, or county superintendent of schools shall in no case draw a requisition for the salary of any teacher for the last month of a school term, until the report has been filed by him and approved.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44817. Section 44817.

The principal of each elementary school when directed by the city or district superintendent of schools shall submit an annual report to such superintendent, or, if no superintendent is employed in the district, to the county superintendent of schools, on forms furnished by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44818. Section 44818.

The principal of each high school, when directed by the city or district superintendent of schools, shall make an annual report to such superintendent, or, if no superintendent is employed in the district, to the county superintendent of schools, on forms furnished by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44821. Section 44821.

A high school principal shall not enter into any contract to act as a principal or supervising principal of any elementary school, except an elementary school in the district in which the high school is located, without the approval of the county superintendent of schools.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44823. Section 44823.

The principal of any high school may act as the supervising principal of two or more elementary schools situated in the high school district without regard to the number of teachers employed in each of the elementary schools, if so desired by the trustees of the elementary school district or districts and the high school board.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44824. Section 44824.

A full-time probationary or permanent classroom teacher currently employed by a school district which decides to maintain classes on Saturday or Sunday, or both, shall not, without his written consent, be required to teach under such program for more than 180 full days during a school year, or for more than the number of full days the schools of the district were maintained during the year preceding implementation of weekend classes, whichever is greater. This section shall not be construed as limiting the power of any governing board of a school district to govern the schools of the district, including the assignment of teachers employed by the district. No such classroom teacher shall be assigned to perform services on a Saturday or Sunday if such teacher objects in writing that such assignment would conflict with his or her religious beliefs or practices.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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