Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52500. Section 52500.
Adult schools and evening high schools shall consist of classes for adults. Minors may be admitted to those classes pursuant to board policy and Section 52500.1.
ARTICLE 1. General Provisions [52500. - 52524.]
Cal. Education Code - EDC 1.
in effectCal. Education Code - EDC § 52500.1. Section 52500.1.
(a)
Adult schools shall consist of programs, courses, and classes for adults. Minors may be admitted to those programs, courses, and classes pursuant to governing board policy and this section.
(b)
Eligibility of high school pupils for enrollment in adult education programs, courses, and classes shall be limited to pupils who meet both of the following conditions:
(1)
High school pupils who enroll in adult education programs, courses, and classes pursuant to Section 41976, except that high school pupils shall not be counted for adult education apportionment purposes.
(2)
High school pupils who
have completed a counseling session that involved the pupil, a certificated representative of the high school, and the pupil’s parent or guardian, and who have a school record that contains written documentation of the session and a statement that the pupil is voluntarily enrolling in the adult education program, course, or class, and that enrollment in an adult education program, course, or class will enhance the pupil’s progress toward meeting the educational requirements for graduation from high school. Commencing July 1, 1994, a school district shall not enroll high school pupils pursuant to this subdivision unless the school district complies with the conditions set forth in this subdivision.
(c)
Money for the Adult Education Program, established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 84900) of Chapter 5 of Part 50 of Division 7 of Title 3, shall not be used to support the costs of adult education programs, courses, and classes
described in this section. A school district shall clearly demonstrate that the costs of instruction for persons under 18 years of age enrolled in an adult education program, course, or class described in this section are from another allowable fund source or sources.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52501. Section 52501.
The governing board of a school district maintaining secondary schools shall have power with the approval of the department to establish and maintain classes for adults, except programs and classes in outdoor science education and conservation education, as the term is employed in Section 8760, for the purpose of providing instruction in classes and courses defined in Section 41976.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52501.3. Section 52501.3.
Each governing board maintaining classes for adults shall meet the requirements set forth in Sections 35145, 41010, 41011, 41015, 41020, 42103, 42600, 51040, 51041, 51050, and 51056.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52501.5. Section 52501.5.
Revenue derived from the Adult Education Program, established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 84900) of Chapter 5 of Part 50 of Division 7 of Title 3, shall not be expended for other than adult education purposes.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52502. Section 52502.
The governing board of a high school district or unified school district may establish classes for adults. If these classes result in enrollment in any school year of 500 or more students, such districts shall establish an adult school for the administration of the program, if one is not established. This section shall not prohibit the governing board of a high school district or unified school district from establishing an adult school at an enrollment threshold in classes for adults lower than 500 students for any school year.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52503. Section 52503.
The governing board of a high school district or unified school district may establish and maintain one or more adult schools by resolution of the governing board.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52504. Section 52504.
Classes for adults shall conform to any course of study and graduation requirements otherwise imposed by law or under the authority of law.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52505. Section 52505.
Such classes may be convened at such hours and for such length of time during the day or evening and at such period and for such length of time during the school year as may be determined by the governing authority. The governing board of any high school district or unified school district may provide for the maintenance of these classes.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52506. Section 52506.
The department shall establish standards including standards of attendance, curriculum, administration, and guidance and counseling service for these classes as a basis for the several apportionments of state funds provided herein for the support of these classes. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall prepare, distribute, and maintain a detailed handbook for use by the local educational agencies. The handbook shall contain course approval criteria, implementation plans for administrative regulations, and procedures for securing course and program approvals.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52507. Section 52507.
Governing boards shall have the authority to provide for granting appropriate credits, certificates, diplomas or other recognition of skill or accomplishment in such classes which such districts are otherwise authorized to grant.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52508. Section 52508.
The governing board of a high school district or a unified school district shall have the authority to award diplomas or certificates to adults and eligible minors enrolled in adult schools upon satisfactory completion of a prescribed course of study in an elementary school program.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52509. Section 52509.
The governing board of any school district maintaining an adult school shall prescribe the requirements for the granting of diplomas.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52511. Section 52511.
Whenever the governing board of a school district maintaining an adult school or classes for adults is unable to maintain the school or classes in the school district because of its inability to secure a teacher or teachers, or because of lack of facilities, the governing board of the school district may, with the approval of the county superintendent of schools and the Superintendent, maintain the school or classes of the school district elsewhere than within the school district or contract for instruction of the students in an adult school or classes with the governing board of another school district.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52514. Section 52514.
High schools maintained in any state institution for adults or in any city, county, or city and county jail, road camp or farm shall consist only of classes for adults.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52515. Section 52515.
State funds shall not be apportioned to a school district unless the courses have been approved by the department pursuant to Section 41976.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52517. Section 52517.
(a)
A high school or unified school district shall report for attendance in a class if either of the following occurs:
(1)
The school district receives full compensation for the class from any public or private agency, individual, or group of individuals, except fees authorized by Section 52612.
(2)
The class is not located in a facility clearly identified in a manner, and established by appropriate procedures, to ensure that attendance in the class is open to the general public, unless the class is authorized pursuant to Section 52570 or located in a state hospital.
(b)
The state board may adopt
regulations as may be necessary to enforce this section.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52523. Section 52523.
Adult education programs, courses, and classes shall not be used to supplant the regular high school curriculum for high school pupils enrolled in adult education. Adult education shall supplement and enrich the high school pupil’s educational experiences. Therefore, adult education, at a minimum, shall meet the following criteria:
(a)
All programs, courses, and classes conducted as adult education shall be open to adults and listed in the school district’s catalog of adult education classes provided to the public and shall be under the supervision and jurisdiction of the adult education administrator as determined by the governing board of the school district. Adults shall have priority over other students for admission to any adult education class if those adults enroll not later than
the regular enrollment period for those classes. The enrollment period shall be published in the course catalog. A course required by the school district for high school graduation or necessary for pupils to maintain satisfactory academic progress shall not be offered exclusively through the adult education program. An adult for purposes of this section is a person 18 years of age or older or other person who is not concurrently enrolled in a regular high school program.
(b)
Each adult education teacher, whether part time or full time, under contract status or in an hourly position, shall be part of the adult school faculty and shall be under the direct supervision of the authorized adult education administrator.
(c)
Enrollment of high school pupils shall be voluntary on the part of the pupil taking the class. Before enrollment by a high school pupil in an adult education program,
class, or course, the pupil shall have documentation of the counseling session held pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 52500.1.
(d)
Enrollment of a high school pupil in an adult education program, course, or class shall be for sound educational purposes, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1)
The adult education program, course, or class is not offered in the regular high school curriculum.
(2)
The adult education program, course, or class is needed by the pupil to make up deficient credits for graduation from high school.
(3)
The adult education program, course, or class allows the pupil to gain vocational and technical skills beyond that provided by the regular high school’s vocational and technical education program.
(4)
The adult education program, course, or class supplements and enriches the high school pupil’s educational experience.
(e)
A high school pupil shall not be enrolled for apportionment purposes in an adult education program, course, or class that would be considered any of the following:
(1)
Physical education.
(2)
Driver’s training and education.
(3)
Visual and performing arts.
(4)
Band.
(5)
Preparation of a school yearbook or school newspaper.
(6)
Training for, or participation in, athletic camps,
cheerleading or spirit organizations, student government, or extracurricular student clubs.
(f)
The Superintendent shall issue a program advisory that further defines the purposes set forth in subdivision (d) and the courses set forth in subdivision (e). The Superintendent is authorized to issue, at any time, rules and regulations instead of the program advisory.
(g)
Money under the Adult Education Program, established pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 84900) of Chapter 5 of Part 50 of Division 7 of Title 3, shall not be used to support the costs of an adult education program, course, and class described in subdivision (e). A school district shall clearly demonstrate that the costs of instruction for pupils under 18 years of age enrolled in an adult education program, course, or class described in subdivision (e) are from another allowable fund source or sources.
(h)
Students enrolled in adult education programs, courses, and classes shall be assigned a statewide student identifier consistent with the identifiers assigned to pupils in K–12 education programs, if the student is not already identified by a social security number in the data system of the adult school or other local educational agency providing the adult education programs, courses, or classes. Adult schools shall share the assigned identifiers with the California Community Colleges for inclusion in the student data system.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 52524. Section 52524.
(a)
The department, in conjunction with the chancellor’s office, as part of the report and recommendations required pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of Section 84830, shall jointly develop and issue assessment policy recommendations regarding assessments to be used by school districts and community college districts for purposes of placement in adult education courses offered pursuant to Section 84830.
(b)
The department and the chancellor’s office, as a
part of the report and recommendations required pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of Section 84830, shall jointly develop and issue policy recommendations to the Legislature regarding a comprehensive accountability system for adult education courses offered pursuant to Sections 41976 and 84757. The department and the chancellor’s office shall develop recommendations for all adult education-funded providers for assessment, evaluation, and data collection to document participant outcomes and placement, and other measures they deem appropriate. Accountability measures may include receipt of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, placement in a postsecondary educational institution, training, and employment. All funded programs shall be required to annually submit demographic and other student-level outcome information to the department or the chancellor’s office, as
appropriate.
(c)
The department, in conjunction with the chancellor’s office, and as a part of the report and recommendations required pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of Section 84830, shall coordinate and issue both of the following:
(1)
Recommendations, including recommendations as to whether or not fees should be assessed, and fee policy guidelines to be used by school districts and community college districts regarding the authority to charge fees for courses offered pursuant to Section 84830. With respect to these recommendations and guidelines, it is the intent of the Legislature that:
(A)
Registration and course fees should be equivalent across all programs.
(B)
Fees should not generate income beyond the cost of providing the courses.
(C)
Fees should not create a barrier to student access to adult education programs.
(2)
Recommendations and policy guidelines regarding the use of a single student identifier to be used by school districts and community college districts for purposes of developing a comprehensive accountability system pursuant to the requirements of Section 84830.
(d)
As used in this section, “chancellor’s office” means the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026