ARTICLE 2. Interdistrict Attendance [78030. - 78034.]

Cal. Education Code - EDC 2.

in effect

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 78030. Section 78030.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares as follows: (1) Many community college students desire to attend, and do attend, community colleges outside their district of residence. (2) Prior to the passage of Proposition 13, interdistrict attendance restrictions were necessary to provide for payments from the district of residence to a district of attendance whenever significant numbers of students were involved. (3) The fact that community colleges are now substantially reliant upon the state for financial resources rather than upon local residents compels a reexamination of the concern over subsidization of the attendance of nondistrict residents. (4) Community college district boundaries are often irregular in configuration and require many students to attend community colleges in less convenient locations when interdistrict attendance restrictions are imposed. (5) Transportation is the most significant cost facing community college students with regard to college attendance. (6) It is not in the best interests of the people of the State of California that attendance at a community college be restricted to a person’s district of residence. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article to provide for the unrestricted enrollment and attendance of students at community colleges, thereby providing each resident of the state an equal opportunity to attend the community college of his or her choice.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 78031. Section 78031.

(a) Subject to Article 1 (commencing with Section 76000) of Chapter 1 of Part 47, a district resident, as defined for purposes of Part 41 (commencing with Section 68000), shall be admitted to a community college in another district without regard to district boundaries, unless the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges finds that compelling, extenuating circumstances exist under which the application of this policy would be substantially detrimental to the opportunity of students to obtain a quality education. (b) No district shall restrict the admission of its residents into a community college of another district, nor shall it restrict the admission of residents of another district into its community college or colleges, except as authorized under Section 78032.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 78032. Section 78032.

(a) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges may, pursuant to a finding that one or more of the following concerns in any community college district requires the restriction of interdistrict attendance, impose one or more restrictions upon interdistrict attendance with regard to that district as it deems necessary: (1) Protection of the financial health of the district, and of educational program integrity, including, but not limited to, maintenance of the appropriate quality and scope of student educational opportunity. (2) The need to avoid overcrowding, in light of the available space in the district. (3) The priority that resident students not be displaced by students who do not reside in the district. (b) No restriction adopted under subdivision (a) shall apply for a period of longer than two years, absent additional action of the board of governors to continue that restriction. (c) (1) No community college district shall recruit any student who is a resident of any other community college district, except where an agreement exists between those districts authorizing each district to recruit within the boundaries of the other district. (2) If, pursuant to an agreement as described in paragraph (1), a community college district recruits within the boundaries of another community college district, it shall recruit from all high schools within that other district, and may not favor any high schools over other high schools within that other district. (3) For purposes of this section: (A) “Recruiting” means either or both of the following actions by a community college district, where the apparent purpose is to encourage student attendance in that district: (i) The mailing by a community college district, to any address not within its boundaries, of class schedules or other written information, except to current or former students of the district or at the addressee’s request. (ii) The personal visit by a representative of the community college district to any high school, except in response to an invitation from the school district of which the high school is a part. (B) “Recruiting” does not include any information provided by a community college district through radio, television, or any newspaper or other publication that is not published or otherwise issued by the district, and for which distribution is not limited to residents of the district. (d) The board of governors shall authorize the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to retain in any fiscal year an amount of up to 5 percent of the appropriation calculated under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 84700) of Part 50 as a penalty applicable to any community college district that violates this article, including, but not necessarily limited to, any restriction imposed by the board of governors under this section. Any funds retained pursuant to this subdivision shall revert to the General Fund.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 78033. Section 78033.

Nothing in this act shall abrogate any contract existing between any school districts on the effective date of this chapter. Any contractual provision in any contract in effect on the effective date of this chapter shall prevail over any conflicting provision in this chapter until the termination date of the contract, or upon termination by mutual agreement of the parties, whichever occurs first.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 78034. Section 78034.

(a) In addition to classification as a resident pursuant to Section 68040, each community college student shall be classified as either a district resident or a nondistrict resident. (b) For purposes of classification as a district resident or nondistrict resident, the following definitions shall be applicable: (1) “District” means a community college district maintaining one or more community colleges. (2) “District resident” means a resident who has residence within a district in the state. (3) “Nondistrict resident” means a resident who does not have residence within a district in the state, or means a student who: (A) within a 39-month period immediately preceding the residence determination date, was graduated from a high school which is situated in territory not within a district, and (B) whose parent or parents reside in this territory.

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