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California Education Laws
California laws govern education in the state unless a federal law is already in place, or there is an exception to the law.
Created by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and editors
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Many of the federal laws affecting education are based on broader concerns, such as civil rights and free speech. One exception is the No Child Left Behind Act, which set minimum standards for all U.S. schools and required standardized testing to help determine federal funding levels. But education is primarily controlled at the state level — in fact, eight California school districts have received a waiver from the NCLB program.
California laws and regulations also impact higher education, such as the admission standards and curriculum guidelines for community colleges and schools in the UC system. This section covers California education laws, including privacy of school records and compulsory education requirements.
Learn About California Education Laws
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California Compulsory Education Laws
Basic parameters of California’s compulsory education laws, which require children ages six to 18 to attend some form of schooling, with exceptions such as leaves of absence or early graduation.
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California School Prayer Laws
Information about California laws with respect to prayer in public schools, which in some cases is prohibited (if school sponsored, for instance), with links to related topics.
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California Corporal Punishment Laws
Link to California law regarding corporal punishment, or the use of spanking or other physical actions as punishment, which is prohibited in the state.
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California School Record Privacy Laws
California laws governing the privacy and/or confidentiality of public school records, particularly the determination of who has access to records and penalties for the mishandling of records.
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