Section 1981.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 1981.
in effectThe county board of education may enroll pupils in a county community school who are any of the following:
(a)
Expelled from a school district for any reason other than those specified in subdivision (a) or (c) of Section 48915.
(b)
(1)
Referred to a county community school by a school district as a result of the recommendation by a school attendance review board. A pupil shall not be referred to a county community school by a school district pursuant to this subdivision unless the school district and the county office of education determine all of the
following:
(A)
The county community school has space available to enroll the pupil.
(B)
The county community school meets the educational needs of the pupil.
(C)
(i)
The parent, guardian, or responsible adult of the pupil has not expressly objected to the referral based on one or more of the following reasons:
(I)
Reasonable concerns related to the pupil’s safety.
(II)
Geographic accessibility.
(III)
Inability to transport.
(IV)
The school does not meet the
pupil’s educational needs.
(ii)
The school district may require the objection to be in writing if it has advised the parent, guardian, or responsible adult that they may object, in writing, for one of these reasons.
(2)
If the county community
school recommended pursuant to paragraph (1) is not geographically accessible to the pupil, the school attendance review board shall also include in its recommendation a school option for the pupil that is geographically accessible to the pupil and
meets the criteria specified in paragraph (1).
(3)
If the parent, guardian, or responsible adult of the pupil objects for any of the reasons described in subclauses (I) to (IV), inclusive, of clause (i) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1), the school district may either address the express objection or find an alternative placement in another comprehensive or continuation school within the school district. If the school district has offered the pupil all other options, the school district may refer the pupil to the county community school.
(4)
The pupil has the right to return to his
or her prior school or another appropriate school within his or her school district at the end of the semester following the semester when the acts leading to referral occurred. The right to return shall continue until the end of the pupil’s 18th year of age, except that a pupil with exceptional needs, consistent with Section 56041 of this code and Section 1412(a)(1)(A) of Title 20 of the United States Code, shall have the right to return until he or she turns 22 years of age.
(c)
(1)
(A)
On probation, with or without the supervision of a probation officer and consistent with an order of a juvenile court, who
are considered to be wards of the court under Sections 601 and 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and ordered placed pursuant to Sections 725, 729.2, and 791 of, and paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 727 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(B)
Under the supervision of a probation officer, with the consent of the minor and the minor’s parent or guardian, pursuant to Section 654 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(C)
Under the supervision of a probation officer pursuant to Section 726 and paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code with the consent of the pupil’s parent, guardian, or responsible adult appointed by the juvenile court to make educational decisions for the pupil. The enrollment of a minor covered by this
paragraph in a county community school shall be consistent with paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 726 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, which provides that all educational and school placement decisions shall seek to ensure that the youth is in the least restrictive educational program, has
access to the academic resources, services, and extracurricular and enrichment activities that are available to all pupils, and are based on the best interests of the child.
(D)
Unless specifically ordered by a juvenile court, nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to conflict with the existing rights of a parent, guardian, or responsible adult appointed by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 726 of the Welfare and Institutions Code to make educational placement decisions for the minor.
(E)
With respect to a pupil’s enrollment in a county community school pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (C), and consistent with paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 726 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and California Rule of Court 5.651, all of the following
shall apply:
(i)
The attorney for, or the person holding the educational rights of, a pupil who is under the jurisdiction of the delinquency court may use the procedures set forth in California Rule of Court 5.651 to address any change of placement that results in the enrollment of the pupil in a county community school that is not his or her school of origin.
(ii)
The attorney or the person holding the educational rights appointed by the court for a pupil who is under the jurisdiction of the delinquency court may, during a regularly scheduled hearing, raise any concerns with respect to whether the enrollment of the pupil in a county community school is meeting the educational needs of the pupil.
(iii)
Nothing in this
subparagraph is intended to limit in any way the rights or responsibilities of any person as set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 726 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and California Rule of Court 5.651.
(2)
On probation or parole and not in attendance at any school, where enrollment is with the consent of the parent, guardian, or responsible adult, or the pupil, if he or she is 18 years of age or older. Nothing in this subdivision shall impact the provision of services or funding for youth up to 25 years of age pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1982, as that section read on September 25, 2013.
(3)
Expelled for any of the reasons specified in subdivision (a) or (c) of Section 48915.
(4)
Enrollment in a county community school pursuant to this subdivision shall be consistent with subdivision (b) of Section 48645.5.
(d)
Pupils whose school districts of attendance, or, for pupils who do not have school districts of attendance, school districts of residence, have, at the request of the pupil’s parent, guardian, or responsible adult, approved the pupil’s enrollment in a county community school, subject to the following:
(1)
A pupil shall not be enrolled in a county community school pursuant to this subdivision unless the school district determines that the placement will promote the educational interests of the pupil and the county community school has space available to enroll the pupil.
(2)
A parent, guardian, or responsible adult of a pupil enrolled in a county community school pursuant to this subdivision may rescind the request for the placement, and the pupil shall be immediately reenrolled in the school that the pupil attended at the time of the referral, or, with the consent of the parent, guardian, or responsible adult, another appropriate school.
(e)
The procedures outlined in subdivisions (b) to (e), inclusive, of Section 51225.2 govern the transfer of credits, records, including special education records, and grades required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 48645.5 and Section 49068 when the pupil transfers to and from the county community school.
(f)
For purposes of this section, “geographically accessible” means that the pupil can reasonably
travel to and from the school and is able to pay for any transportation costs that are above and beyond the costs to attend his or her school of residence or prior school, whichever is farther away.
References
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 601.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 602.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 654.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 727.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 726.
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 48915.
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 56041.
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 1412.
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 725.
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 729.2.
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 791.
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 727.
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 726.
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 1982.
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 48645.5.
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 51225.2.
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 49068.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026