Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 80, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.
Article 3 - Resignations, Dismissals, and Leaves of Absence
California Education Code — §§ 44930-44988
Sections (77)
Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 922, Sec. 94. Effective January 1, 1995.
Whenever any certificated employee of any school district who, at the time of his or her resignation, was classified as permanent, is reemployed within 39 months after his or her last day of paid service, the governing board of the district shall, disregarding the break in service, classify him or her as, and restore to him or her all of the rights, benefits and burdens of, a permanent employee, except as otherwise provided in this code. However, time spent in active military service, as defined in Section 44800, subsequent to the last day of paid service shall not count as part of the aforesaid 39-month period.
Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 86. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.
that chapter.
1028 of the Government Code, added by Chapter 1418 of the Statutes of 1947.
Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 498, Sec. 52. Effective July 28, 1983.
A permanent employee may be dismissed or suspended on grounds of unprofessional conduct consisting of acts or omissions other than those specified in Section 44932, but any such charge shall specify instances of behavior deemed to constitute unprofessional conduct. This section shall also apply to the suspension of probationary employees in a school district with an average daily attendance of less than 250 pupils.
Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 55, Sec. 3. (AB 215) Effective January 1, 2015.
Section 44932 or 44933, for the dismissal or suspension of a permanent employee of the school district, the governing board of the school district may, upon majority vote, except as provided in this article if it deems the action necessary, give notice to the permanent employee of its intention to dismiss or suspend him or her at the expiration of 30 days from the date of service of the notice, unless the employee demands a hearing as provided in this article. Suspension proceedings may be initiated pursuant to this section only if the governing board of the school district has not adopted a collective bargaining agreement pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 3543.2 of the Government Code.
employee is alleged to have violated, and it shall also set forth the facts relevant to each charge.
governing board of the school district shall not be required to file or serve a separate accusation.
Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 55, Sec. 4. (AB 215) Effective January 1, 2015.
deems the action necessary, give notice to the permanent employee of its intention to dismiss or suspend him or her at the expiration of 30 days from the date of service of the notice, unless the employee demands a hearing as provided in this article.
subdivision (b) of Section 3542.2 of the Government Code.
Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 55, Sec. 5. (AB 215) Effective January 1, 2015.
preparation, unless the certificated employee does not demand a hearing as provided by Section 44937.
Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 55, Sec. 6. (AB 215) Effective January 1, 2015.
notice of dismissal or suspension given during the instructional year of the schoolsite where the employee is physically employed shall be in writing and be served upon the employee personally or by United States registered mail addressed to him or her at his or her last known address. A copy of the charges filed, containing the information required by Section 11503 of the Government Code, together with a copy of the provisions of this article, shall be attached to the notice.
Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 55, Sec. 7. (AB 215) Effective January 1, 2015.
In a dismissal or suspension proceeding initiated pursuant to Section 44934 or 44934.1, if the employee does not demand a hearing by filing a written request for hearing with the governing board, he or she may be dismissed or suspended without pay for a specific period of time at the expiration of the 30-day period.
Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 392, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1996.
“Unprofessional conduct” as used in this section means, and refers to, the unprofessional conduct particularly specified as a cause for dismissal or suspension in Sections 44932 and 44933 and does not include any other cause for dismissal specified in Section 44932.
Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 87. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.
governing board of the school district may, if it deems that action necessary, immediately suspend the employee from his or her duties and give notice to him or her of his or her suspension, and that 30 days after service of the notice of dismissal, he or she will be dismissed, unless he or she demands a hearing.
sufficient basis for immediate suspension.
parties. The grant or denial of the motion shall be without prejudice to consideration by the Commission on Professional Competence, based upon the full evidentiary record before it, of the validity of the grounds for dismissal. The ruling shall not be considered by the commission in determining the validity of the grounds for dismissal, and shall not have any bearing on the commission’s determination regarding the grounds for dismissal.
of the motion is not subject to interlocutory judicial review.
Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 55, Sec. 9. (AB 215) Effective January 1, 2015.
service of the notice of dismissal, he or she will be dismissed, unless he or she demands a hearing.
Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 460, Sec. 12. (SB 848) Effective January 1, 2026.
investigations into, or discipline for, egregious misconduct, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 44932. This prohibition does not preclude removing, or entering into an agreement to remove, documents containing allegations that have been the subject of a hearing before an arbitrator, school board, personnel commission, Commission on Professional Competence, or administrative law judge, in which the employee prevailed, the allegations were determined to be false, not credible, or unsubstantiated, or a determination was made that the discipline was not warranted.
special school or diagnostic center operated by the department, and private school that the applicant has previously been an employee of.
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 44932, that were required to be reported to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Credentialing, within its possession.
Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 88. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.
or indictment filed in a court of competent jurisdiction with the commission of any controlled substance offense as defined in Section 44011 or 87011 of this code, or Sections 11357 to 11361, inclusive, or Section 11363, 11364, or 11370.1 of the Health and Safety Code, insofar as these sections relate to any controlled substances except marijuana, mescaline, peyote, or tetrahydrocannabinols.
time not more than 10 days after the date of entry of the judgment in the proceedings. No later than 10 days after receipt of the complaint, information, or indictment described by subdivision (a), the school district shall forward a copy to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
the employee upon compulsory leave in accordance with the procedure in this section and Section 44940.5. If any certificated employee is charged with an offense deemed to fall into both the mandatory and the optional leave of absence categories, as defined in subdivisions (a) and (b), that offense shall be treated as a mandatory leave of absence offense for purposes of this section. No later than 10 days after receipt of the complaint, information, or indictment described by subdivision (a), the school district shall forward a copy to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
proceedings.
Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 579, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2009.
A certificated employee placed on compulsory leave of absence pursuant to Section 44940, and a classified employee placed on compulsory leave of absence pursuant to Section 45304 shall be subject to the following procedures:
Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 55, Sec. 12. (AB 215) Effective January 1, 2015.
Code.
Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 55, Sec. 13. (AB 215) Effective January 1, 2015.
Notwithstanding Section 44941, the notice of suspension and intention to dismiss that is based exclusively on charges of egregious misconduct as described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 44932, shall be in writing and served pursuant to Section 44936. A copy of the charges filed, containing the information required by Section 11503 of the Government Code, together with a copy of the provisions of this article, shall be attached to the notice. If the employee does not demand a hearing within the 30-day period, he or she may be dismissed upon the expiration of 30 days after service of the notice.
Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 455, Sec. 1.
A written report of the panel on the examination of the suspended or transferred employee shall be submitted to the governing board no later than 10 days after completion of the examination. A copy shall be supplied to the employee upon request. The report shall contain a finding on whether the employee is suffering from mental illness of such a degree as to render him or her incompetent to perform his or her duties.
Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 55, Sec. 14. (AB 215) Effective January 1, 2015.
When any employee who has been served with notice pursuant to Section 44934 or 44934.1 of the governing board’s intention to dismiss or suspend him or her demands a hearing, the governing board shall have the option either (a) to rescind its action, or (b) schedule a hearing on the matter.
Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 401, Sec. 9. (AB 1578) Effective January 1, 2022.
the record pursuant to this subdivision shall be extended for a period of time equal to the continuance. The hearing date shall be established after consultation with the employee and the governing board of the school district, or their representatives, except that if the parties are not able to reach an agreement on a date, the Office of Administrative Hearings shall unilaterally set a date in compliance with this section. The hearing shall be completed by a closing of the record within seven months of the date of the employee’s demand for a hearing. A continuance shall not extend the date for the close of the record more than seven months from the date of the employee’s request for a hearing, except for good cause, as determined by the administrative law judge.
(B) If substantial progress has been made in completing the previously scheduled days of the hearing within the seven-month period but the hearing cannot be completed, for good cause
shown, within the seven-month period, the period for completing the hearing may be extended by the presiding administrative law judge. If the administrative law judge grants a continuance under this subparagraph, the administrative law judge shall establish a reasonable timetable for the completion of the hearing and the closing of the record. The hearing shall be initiated and conducted, and a decision made, in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the Commission on Professional Competence shall have all of the power granted to an agency pursuant to that chapter, except as described in this article.
filing of the notice, except in one of the following circumstances:
(ii) Testimony or evidence regarding allegations of an act described in Section 288 of the Penal Code with respect to a pupil of any age, Section 288.3 of the Penal Code, Section 44010 of this code, or Sections 11165.2 to 11165.6, inclusive, of the Penal Code may be introduced in
any disciplinary proceeding.
(B) Evidence of records regularly kept by the governing board of the school district concerning the employee may be introduced, but no decision relating to the dismissal or suspension of an employee shall be made based on charges or evidence of any nature relating to matters occurring more than four years before the filing of the notice, except as allowed pursuant to subparagraph (A).
Professional Competence, the hearing shall be initiated and conducted, and a decision made, in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the administrative law judge conducting the hearing shall have all the powers granted to a Commission on Professional Competence pursuant to that chapter, except as described in this article.
objection, with the Office of Administrative Hearings and serve the objection and statement upon all other parties within 10 days of the date that the notice of selection is filed. Within seven days after the filing of any objection, the administrative law judge assigned to the matter shall rule on the objection or convene a teleconference with the parties for argument.
(ii) For an employee subject to dismissal whose most recent assignment requires an education specialist credential or a services credential, “discipline” means an assignment that requires an education specialist credential or a services credential, respectively.
(iii) For an employee subject to dismissal whose most recent teaching assignment is in any of the grades 7 to 12, inclusive, “discipline” means a teaching assignment in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, in the same area of study, as that term is used in Section 51220, as the most recent teaching assignment of the employee subject
to dismissal.
(A) That the employee should be dismissed.
(B) That the employee should be suspended for a specific period of time without pay.
(C) That the employee should not be dismissed or suspended.
or governing board of the school district unless the errors are prejudicial errors.
toward retirement benefits.
employee, including, but not limited to, payments or obligations incurred for travel, meals, and lodging, and the cost of the substitute or substitutes, if any, for the member selected by the governing board of the school district and the member selected by the employee. The Controller shall pay all claims submitted pursuant to this paragraph from the General Fund, and may prescribe reasonable rules, regulations, and forms for the submission of the claims. The employee and the governing board of the school district shall pay their own attorney’s fees.
member selected by the governing board of the school district and the member selected by the employee, including, but not limited to, payments or obligations incurred for travel, meals, and lodging, the cost of the substitute or substitutes, if any, for the member selected by the governing board of the school district and the member selected by the employee, and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the employee.
conducted in a place selected by agreement among the members of the Commission on Professional Competence. In the absence of agreement, the place shall be selected by the administrative law judge.
Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 90. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.
(A) A party shall, without awaiting a discovery request, provide to the other parties both of the following:
telephone number of each individual likely to have discoverable information, along with the subjects of information relating to the allegations made in the charges and the parties’ claims and defenses, unless the use would be solely for impeachment purposes.
(ii) A copy of all documents, electronically stored information, and tangible items that the disclosing party has in its possession, custody, or control relating to the allegations made in the charges and the parties’ claims or defenses, unless the use would be solely for impeachment.
(B) The school district and the employee shall make their initial disclosures within 45 days of the date of the employee’s demand for a hearing.
(C) A party shall make its initial disclosures based on the information then reasonably available to it. A party is not excused from
making its disclosures because it has not fully investigated the case or because it challenges the sufficiency of another party’s disclosures. A party’s failure to make initial disclosures within the deadlines set forth in this section shall preclude the party from introducing witnesses or evidence not disclosed at the hearing, unless the party shows good cause for its failure to timely disclose.
(D) A party has an obligation to promptly supplement its initial disclosures as new information or evidence becomes known or available. Supplemental disclosures shall be made as soon as possible, and no later than 60 days before the date of commencement of the hearing. A party’s failure to make supplemental disclosures promptly upon discovery or availability of new information or evidence shall preclude the party from introducing witnesses or evidence not disclosed at the hearing, unless the party shows good cause for its failure to timely
disclose.
disclosures shall be made no later than 60 days before the date of commencement of the hearing. A party’s failure to make full and timely expert witness disclosures shall preclude the party’s use of the expert witness’ testimony or evidence at the hearing.
(ii) An identification of each exhibit,
separately identifying those items the party expects to offer and those it may offer if the need arises.
(B) Prehearing disclosures shall be made at least 30 days before the hearing.
(ii) These objections shall be decided on the first day of the hearing, or at a prehearing conference conducted pursuant to Section 11511.5 of the Government Code. Documents and individuals not timely disclosed without good cause shall be precluded from admission at the hearing.
California, in accordance with Sections 2025.010 to 2025.620, inclusive, of the Code of Civil Procedure, except as described in this article. The school district may take the depositions of the employee and no more than four other witnesses, and the employee may take depositions of no more than five witnesses. Each witness deposition is limited to seven hours. An administrative law judge may allow the parties to conduct additional depositions only upon a showing of good cause. If a motion to conduct additional depositions is granted by the administrative law judge, the employee shall be given a meaningful opportunity to respond to new evidence introduced as a result of the additional depositions. An order granting a motion for additional depositions shall not constitute an extraordinary circumstance or good cause for purposes of extending the deadlines set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 44944.
disclosures or oral depositions is denied by either the employee or the governing board, the exclusive right of a party seeking an order compelling production of discovery shall be pursuant to Section 11507.7 of the Government Code. If a party seeks protection from unreasonable or oppressive discovery demands, the exclusive right of a party seeking an order for protection shall be pursuant to Section 11450.30 of the Government Code.
Repealed and added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 55, Sec. 18. (AB 215) Effective January 1, 2015.
described in this section shall be the exclusive means of pursuing a dismissal or suspension against the certificated employee until a written decision has been reached by the administrative law judge pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), the charges have been dismissed, or the dismissal or suspension proceeding has been settled or otherwise resolved. If a suspension initiated against an employee pursuant to Section 44934.1 is upheld, and a dismissal was not pursued on the same charges, the entry of judgment of the suspension under Section 44934.1 may be considered as evidence to support a subsequent notice of dismissal based on other charges. If a suspension initiated against an employee pursuant to Section 44934.1 is upheld, but the employee prevailed on the dismissal proceeding based on the same charges, the entry of judgment of the suspension under Section 44934.1 shall not be considered as evidence to support a subsequent notice of dismissal based on other charges.
unilaterally set a date in compliance with this section. The Office of Administrative Hearings shall prioritize the scheduling of dismissal or suspension proceedings initiated pursuant to Section 44934.1 over other proceedings related to certificated school employees.
(B) The right of discovery of the parties shall not be limited to those matters set forth in Section 11507.6 of the Government Code but shall include the rights and duties of any party in a civil action brought in a superior court under Title 4 (commencing with Section 2016.010) of Part 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, and except for the taking of oral depositions, no discovery shall occur later than 30 calendar days after the employee is served with a copy of the accusation pursuant to Section 11505 of the Government Code. In all cases, discovery shall be completed prior to seven calendar days before the date upon which the hearing
commences. If any continuance is granted pursuant to Section 11524 of the Government Code, the time limitation for commencement of the hearing as provided in this subdivision shall be extended for a period of time equal to the continuance. The continuance or continuances granted pursuant to Section 11524 of the Government Code, if any, shall not extend by more than a total of 30 days the deadline set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d). The extension shall not include that period of time attributable to an unlawful refusal by either party to allow the discovery provided for in this section.
right of a party seeking an order for protection shall be pursuant to Section 11450.30 of the Government Code.
misconduct, as described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 44932, which shall not be excluded based on the passage of time.
(A) That the employee should be dismissed.
(B) That the employee should be suspended for a specific period of time without pay.
(C) That the employee should not be dismissed or suspended.
committed by the school district or the governing board of the school district unless the errors are prejudicial errors.
the cost of the administrative law judge, and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the employee.
competent jurisdiction, either the state, having paid one-half of the expenses of the hearing, including the cost of the administrative law judge, shall be entitled to reimbursement from the governing board of the school district for those expenses, or the governing board of the school district, having paid one-half of the expenses, shall be entitled to reimbursement from the state. If either the governing board of the school district or the employee petitions a court of competent jurisdiction for review of the decision to overturn the administrative law judge’s decision, the payment of the expenses of the hearing, including the cost of the administrative law judge required by this paragraph, shall be stayed until no further appeal is sought, or all appeals are exhausted.
Code.
Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 91. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.
At a hearing conducted pursuant to Section 44944 or 44944.1, the administrative law judge, before admitting any testimony or evidence concerning an individual pupil, shall determine whether the introduction of the testimony or evidence at an open hearing would violate any provision of Article 5 (commencing with Section 49073) of Chapter 6.5 of Part 27 of Division 4, relating to privacy of pupil records. If the administrative law judge, in his or her discretion, determines that any of those provisions would be violated, he or she shall order that the hearing, or any portion of the hearing at which the testimony or evidence would be produced, be conducted in executive session.
Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 55, Sec. 20. (AB 215) Effective January 1, 2015.
The decision reached in a dismissal or suspension proceeding initiated pursuant to Section 44934 or 44934.1 may, on petition of either the governing board or the employee, be reviewed by a court of competent jurisdiction in the same manner as a decision made by a hearing officer under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The court, on review, shall exercise its independent judgment on the evidence. The proceeding shall be set for hearing at the earliest possible date and shall take precedence over all other cases, except older matters of the same character and matters to which special precedence is given by law.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
If the employee has been suspended pending the hearing, he shall be reinstated within five days after the governing board’s decision in his favor, and shall be paid full salary by the governing board for the period of his suspension.
Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1263, Sec. 15.
If an employee is dismissed for immoral conduct or conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude, the governing board shall transmit to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and to the county board of education which issued the certificate under which the employee was serving at the time of his dismissal, a copy of the reporter’s transcript of the hearing accompanied by a request that any certificate issued by the county board of education to the employee be revoked if the employee is not reinstated upon appeal.
Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 498, Sec. 60. Effective July 28, 1983.
This subdivision shall apply only to probationary employees whose probationary period commenced prior to the 1983–84 fiscal year or who are employed in a school district having an average daily attendance of less than 250 pupils.
Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 256, Sec. 2.
Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 44948 and subdivision (c) of Section 44948.3, the governing board of any school district having an average daily attendance of less than 250 may elect to dismiss probationary employees during the school year pursuant to the provisions of Section 44948.3. Once a district has made an election pursuant to this section, it shall only dismiss probationary certificated employees during the school year pursuant to this section.
Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 324, Sec. 4.
Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 324, Sec. 5.
If the probationary employee has been in the employ of the district for less than 45 days on March 15, the giving of the notice may be deferred until the 45th day of employment and all time period and deadline dates prescribed by this subdivision shall be coextensively extended.
Until the employee has requested a hearing as provided in subdivision (c) or has waived his or her right to a hearing, the notice and the reasons therefor shall be confidential and shall not be divulged by any person, except as may be necessary in the performance of duties. However, the violation of this requirement of confidentiality, in and of itself, shall not in any manner be construed as affecting the validity of any hearing conducted pursuant to this section.
The board may adopt from time to time such rules and procedures not inconsistent with provisions of this section as may be necessary to effectuate this section.
Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 90, Sec. 1. (SB 546) Effective January 1, 2014.
hearing, the notice and the reasons therefor shall be confidential and shall not be divulged by any person, except as may be necessary in the performance of duties. However, the violation of this requirement of confidentiality, in and of itself, shall not in any manner be construed as affecting the validity of any hearing conducted pursuant to this section.
provided for in subdivision (a) shall advise the employee of the provisions of this subdivision.
only if request is made therefor within 15 days after service of the District Statement of Reduction in Force, and the notice required by Section 11505 of the Government Code shall so indicate.
procedural errors committed by the school district or governing board of the school district shall not constitute cause for dismissing the charges unless the errors are prejudicial errors. Copies of the proposed decision shall be submitted to the governing board and to the employee on or before May 7 of the year in which the proceeding is commenced. All expenses of the hearing, including the cost of the administrative law judge, shall be paid by the governing board from the district funds.
the dates prescribed in subdivision (c) that occur on or after the date of granting the continuance and the date prescribed in subdivision (c) of Section 44955 that occurs after the date of granting the continuance shall be extended for a period of time equal to the continuance.
Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 261, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.
Unless a certificated employee holding a position requiring an administrative or supervisory credential is sent written notice deposited in the United States registered mail with postage prepaid and addressed to his or her last known address by March 15 that he or she may be released from his or her position for the following school year, or unless the signature of the employee is obtained by March 15 on the written notice that he or she may be released from his or her position for the following year, he or she shall be continued in the position. The provisions of this section do not apply to a certificated employee who holds a written contract with an expiration date beyond the current school year, or to a certificated employee holding a position that is funded for less than a school year, or to a certificated employee assigned to an acting position whose continuing right to hold this position depends on being selected from an eligible list established for the position, or to the termination of employment pursuant to Section 44955.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
The provisions of Section 44949 shall not be construed as in any way modifying or affecting the provisions of Section 44948.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
Governing boards of school districts may dismiss substitute employees at any time at the pleasure of the board.
Repealed and added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 336, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1993.
Governing boards of school districts may release temporary employees requiring certification qualifications under the following circumstances:
Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1302, Sec. 15.2. Effective September 30, 1983.
In computing a decline in average daily attendance for purposes of this section for a newly formed or reorganized school district, each school of the district shall be deemed to have been a school of the newly formed or reorganized district for both of the two previous school years.
As between employees who first rendered paid service to the district on the same date, the governing board shall determine the order of termination solely on the basis of needs of the district and the students thereof. Upon the request of any employee whose order of termination is so determined, the governing board shall furnish in writing no later than five days prior to the commencement of the hearing held in accordance with Section 44949, a statement of the specific criteria used in determining the order of termination and the application of the criteria in ranking each employee relative to the other employees in the group. This requirement that the governing board provide, on request, a written statement of reasons for determining the order of termination shall not be interpreted to give affected employees any legal right or interest that would not exist without such a requirement.
The governing board shall make assignments and reassignments in such a manner that employees shall be retained to render any service which their seniority and qualifications entitle them to render. However, prior to assigning or reassigning any certificated employee to teach a subject which he or she has not previously taught, and for which he or she does not have a teaching credential or which is not within the employee’s major area of postsecondary study or the equivalent thereof, the governing board shall require the employee to pass a subject matter competency test in the appropriate subject.
Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 38, Sec. 40. (SB 153) Effective June 29, 2024. Amendment makes this section inoperative from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025.
44951 and 44955 but, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 44951 and 44955, in accordance with a schedule of notice and hearing adopted by the governing board of the school district.
1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, inclusive.
Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 71, Sec. 38. (SB 1304) Effective January 1, 2015.
Any permanent employee whose services have been terminated as provided in Section 44955 shall have the following rights:
the employee is certificated and competent to render. However, prior to reappointing any employee to teach a subject that he or she has not previously taught, and for which he or she does not have a teaching credential or that is not within the employee’s major area of postsecondary study or the equivalent thereof, the governing board shall require the employee to pass a subject matter competency test in the appropriate subject.
he or she had when his or her services were terminated, and credit for prior service under any state or district retirement system shall not be affected by such termination, but the period of his or her absence shall not count as a part of the service required for retirement.
employee receives for substitute service in that 60-day period, including his or her first 20 days of substitute service, shall be not less than the amount the employee would receive if he or she were being reappointed.
district from which his or her services were terminated, and that no permanent employee in the other district or districts shall be displaced by him or her.
before his or her return to service, he or she shall receive, in any state or district retirement system of which he or she was a member, all benefits to which he or she would have been entitled had such event occurred at the time of his or her termination of service, plus any benefits he or she may have qualified for thereafter, as though still employed.
Added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 498, Sec. 67. Effective July 28, 1983.
For a certificated employee initially employed in an administrative position on or after July 1, 1983, who transfers to a teaching position, the period of employment in the administrative position shall not be included in determining seniority for purposes of Sections 44955 and 44956, except for school site administrators who shall earn up to a maximum of three years seniority while serving as site administrators.
Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1302, Sec. 15.5. Effective September 30, 1983.
Any probationary employee whose services have been terminated as provided in Section 44955 shall have the following rights:
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
If the services of any probationary employee are terminated, or if such employee is dismissed, because of a reduction in the attendance of pupils or the discontinuance of a particular kind of service, and such employee is reemployed within a period of 39 months from the last day of the school year within which his service was so terminated, or within 39 months after the cessation of hostilities, if such reduction in attendance or discontinuance of service was due to war conditions, the period of his absence shall not count as a 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.
Every such probationary employee who has been reemployed as indicated in this section shall have all of the rights enumerated in Sections 44955 to 44961, inclusive, for permanent employees, except the right of reappointment, subject only to the prior rights of permanent employees.
The provisions of this section shall apply to any probationary employee who shall be or who shall have been dismissed or terminated after January 1, 1949, because of reduction in attendance or discontinuance of a particular kind of service.
Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 922, Sec. 95. Effective January 1, 1995.
As to any permanent certificated employee whose services have been terminated because of the effect of wars in which the United States is engaged upon the attendance of pupils or upon the maintenance of a particular kind of service, the effective period covered by all rights enumerated in Section 44956 is extended until two years after the cessation of hostilities, and in addition thereto for a like period these employees shall have the following rights:
Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 920, Sec. 7. (SB 913) Effective January 1, 2023.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
The services of any permanent certificated employee referred to in Section 44959 who has been appointed to substitute service in place of another employee who is on leave of absence for civilian or military war service may be terminated upon the return of said other employee from such leave of absence, but only at the end of the current semester or quarter and not less than 30 days after written notice that his services will no longer be required.
Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 303, Sec. 10. (SB 509) Effective January 1, 2010.
In specifying or defining the rights of employees in Sections 44955 to 44961, inclusive, the effect of war refers to “war” as defined in Section 22804.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
Governing boards of school districts may grant leaves of absence to persons employed in positions requiring certification qualifications.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
When any provision of this code expressly authorizes or requires the governing board of a school district to grant a leave of absence for any purpose or for any period of time to persons employed in positions requiring certification qualifications, that express authorization or requirement does not deprive the governing board of the power to grant leaves of absence with or without pay to such employees for other purposes or for other periods of time, so long as the governing board does not deprive any employee of any leave of absence to which he is entitled by law.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
The governing board of any school district may provide for the leave of absence from duty and may grant compensation during the leave of absence to any employee of the district who is employed in a position requiring certification qualifications and who is compelled to absent himself from his duties because of accident or illness, whether or not the cause of absence arises out of and in the course of the employment of the employee, or because of quarantine which results from his contact with other persons having a contagious disease while performing his duties, or because of temporary inability to perform the services required of him because of illness, accident, or quarantine.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
The governing board of any school district shall provide for leave of absence from duty for any certificated employee of the district who is required to be absent from duties because of pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, and recovery therefrom. The length of the leave of absence, including the date on which the leave shall commence and the date on which the employee shall resume duties, shall be determined by the employee and the employee’s physician.
Disabilities caused or contributed to by pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, and recovery therefrom are, for all job-related purposes, temporary disabilities and shall be treated as such under any health or temporary disability insurance or sick leave plan available in connection with employment by any school district.
Except as provided herein, written and unwritten employment policies and practices of any school district shall be applied to disability due to pregnancy or childbirth on the same terms and conditions applied to other temporary disabilities.
This section shall be construed as requiring the governing board of a school district to grant leave with pay only when it is necessary to do so in order that leaves of absence for disabilities caused or contributed to by pregnancy, miscarriage, or childbirth be treated the same as leaves for illness, injury, or disability.
Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 922, Sec. 96. Effective January 1, 1995.
The governing board of any school district may grant any employee of the district employed in a position requiring certification qualifications, a leave of absence for not to exceed one year for the purpose of permitting study or travel by the employee which will benefit the schools and pupils of the district. The governing board may provide that the leave of absence be taken in separate six-month periods or separate quarters rather than for a continuous one-year period, provided that the leave of absence for both of the separate six-month periods or any or all quarters shall be commenced and completed within a three-year period. Any period of service by the individual intervening between the two separate six-month periods or separate quarters of the leave of absence shall comprise a part of the service required for a subsequent leave of absence.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
No leave of absence shall be granted to any employee under Section 44966 who has not rendered service to the district for at least seven consecutive years preceding the granting of the leave, and not more than one such leave of absence shall be granted in each seven-year period. The governing board granting the leave of absence may, subject to the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, prescribe the standards of service which shall entitle the employee to the leave of absence. No absence from the service of the district under a leave of absence, other than a leave of absence granted pursuant to Section 44966, granted by the governing board of the district shall be deemed a break in the continuity of service required by this section, and the period of such absence shall not be included as service in computing the seven consecutive years of service required by this section. Service under a national recognized fellowship or foundation approved by the State Board of Education, for a period of not more than one year, for research, teaching or lecturing shall not be deemed a break in continuity of service, and the period of such absence shall be included in computing the seven consecutive years of service required by this section.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
Every employee granted a leave of absence pursuant to Section 44966 may be required to perform such services during the leave as the governing board of the district and the employee may agree upon in writing, and the employee shall receive such compensation during the period of the leave as the governing board and the employee may agree upon in writing, which compensation shall be not less than the difference between the salary of the employee on leave and the salary of a substitute employee in the position which the employee held prior to the granting of the leave. However, in lieu of such difference, the board may pay one-half of the salary of the employee on leave or any additional amount up to and including the full salary of the employee on leave.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
An employee granted a leave of absence pursuant to Section 44966 or 44967 may agree in writing with the governing board of the school district not to receive compensation during the period of the leave.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
Every employee, as a condition to being granted a leave of absence pursuant to Section 44966, shall agree in writing to render a period of service in the employ of the governing board of the district following his return from the leave of absence which is equal to twice the period of the leave. Compensation granted by the governing board to the employee on leave for less than one year may be paid during the first year of service rendered in the employ of the governing board following the return of the employee from the leave of absence or, in the event that the leave is for a period of one year, such compensation may be paid in two equal annual installments during the first two years of such service following the return of the employee. The compensation shall be paid the employee while on the leave of absence in the same manner as if the employee were teaching in the district, upon the furnishing by the employee of a suitable bond indemnifying the governing board of the district against loss in the event that the employee fails to render the agreed upon period of service in the employ of the governing board following the return of the employee from the leave of absence. The bond shall be exonerated in event the failure of the employee to return and render the agreed upon period of service is caused by the death or physical or mental disability of the employee. If the governing board finds and by resolution declares that the interests of the district will be protected by the written agreement of the employee to return to the service of the district and render the agreed upon period of service therein following his return from the leave, the governing board in its discretion may waive the furnishing of the bond and pay the employee on leave in the same manner as though a bond is furnished.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
If the employee does not serve for the entire period of service agreed upon under Section 44969, the amount of compensation paid for the leave of absence shall be reduced by an amount which bears the same proportion to the total compensation as the amount of time which was not served bears to the total amount of time agreed upon. If the employee furnished an indemnity bond, upon default, the proceeds of the bond shall be divided between the employee and the school district in the same proportion as the actual amount of time served bears to the amount of time agreed upon.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
Where one governing board serves as the governing board of two or more separate districts, an employee may fulfill the service requirements provided in Section 44967 or in 44969, or both, by service in any one or more of the districts under the jurisdiction of such governing board. At the option of the governing board the provisions of this section may apply in whole or in part to service rendered prior to October 1, 1949.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
At the expiration of the leave of absence of the employee, he shall, unless he otherwise agrees, be reinstated in the position held by him at the time of the granting of the leave of absence.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
Both the governing board of any district and the district shall be freed from any liability for the payment of any compensation or damages provided by law for the death or injury of any employee of the district employed in a position requiring certification qualifications when the death or injury occurs while the employee is on any leave of absence granted under the provisions of Sections 44962 to 44976, inclusive.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
No leave of absence when granted to a probationary employee shall be construed as a break in the continuity of service required for the classification of the employee as permanent. The time during which the leave of absence is taken shall not be considered as employment within the meaning of Sections 44882 to 44891, inclusive, Sections 44893 to 44900, inclusive, Sections 44901 to 44906, inclusive, and Sections 44908 to 44919, inclusive.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
When any school or other place of employment shall have been transferred from one district to another, any certificated employees who transfer with said school or other place of employment shall be entitled to retain all sickness and injury, sabbatical and other leave rights accumulated by service prior to such transfer and the district to which such school or other place of employment has been transferred shall recognize or grant such rights, including any accumulated rights allowed by the governing board of the district from which the school or other place of employment was transferred, as fully as if there had been no change in the district maintaining such school or other place of employment.
Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 30, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.
Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 994, Sec. 1. (AB 2012) Effective January 1, 2019.
portion of the 12-workweek period in which the absence occurs shall not exceed the sum that is actually paid a substitute employee employed to fill his or her position during his or her absence or, if no substitute employee was employed, the amount that would have been paid to a substitute had he or she been employed. The school district shall make every reasonable effort to secure the services of a substitute employee.
50 percent of his or her regular salary for the remaining portion of the 12-workweek period of parental leave.
Government Code, a person employed in a position requiring certification qualifications is not required to have 1,250 hours of service with the employer during the previous 12-month period in order to take parental leave pursuant to this section.
of a child of the employee, or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with the adoption or foster care of the child by the employee.
Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 36. Effective September 29, 1996.
Every certificated employee employed five days a week by a school district shall be entitled to 10 days’ leave of absence for illness or injury and additional days in addition thereto as the governing board may allow for illness or injury, exclusive of all days he or she is not required to render service to the district, with full pay for a school year of service. A certificated employee employed for less than five schooldays a week shall be entitled, for a school year of service, to that proportion of 10 days’ leave of absence for illness or injury as the number of days he or she is employed per week bears to five and is entitled to additional days in addition thereto as the governing board may allow for illness or injury to certificated employees employed for less than five schooldays a week. Pay for any day of this absence shall be the same as the pay that would have been received had the employee served during the day. Credit for leave of absence need not be accrued prior to taking the leave by the employee and the leave of absence may be taken at any time during the school year. If the employee does not take the full amount of leave allowed in any school year under this section the amount not taken shall be accumulated from year to year with additional days as the governing board may allow.
The governing board of each school district shall adopt rules and regulations requiring and prescribing the manner of proof of illness or injury for the purposes of this section. The rules and regulations shall not discriminate against evidence of treatment and the need therefor by the practice of the religion of any well-recognized church or denomination.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to modify or repeal any provision of law contained in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 120175) of Part 1 of Division 105 of the Health and Safety Code.
Section 44977 relating to compensation, shall not apply to the first 10 days of absence on account of illness or accident of the employee employed five days a week or to the proportion of 10 days of absence to which the employee employed less than five days a week is entitled hereunder on account of illness or accident or to additional days granted by the governing board. Any employee shall have the right to utilize sick leave provided for in this section and the benefit provided by Section 44977 for absences necessitated by pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, and recovery therefrom.
Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 30, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1999.
When a certificated employee has exhausted all available sick leave, including accumulated sick leave, and continues to be absent on account of illness or accident for a period beyond the five-month period provided pursuant to Section 44977, and the employee is not medically able to resume the duties of his or her position, the employee shall, if not placed in another position, be placed on a reemployment list for a period of 24 months if the employee is on probationary status, or for a period of 39 months if the employee is on permanent status. When the employee is medically able, during the 24- or 39-month period, the certificated employee shall be returned to employment in a position for which he or she is credentialed and qualified. The 24-month or 39-month period shall commence at the expiration of the five-month period provided pursuant to Section 44977.
Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 92, Sec. 52. (SB 1289) Effective January 1, 2019.
under this subdivision shall be credited to a qualifying certificated employee on the effective date of the employee’s disability rating decision from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or on the first day the qualifying certificated employee begins, or returns to, employment after active duty, whichever is later, and shall remain available for use for the following 12 months of employment.
rating decision makes the employee ineligible pursuant to paragraph (1), the employer may change the leave of absence for illness or injury time used before the disability rating decision to an alternative leave balance. If the certificated employee’s disability rating decision makes the employee eligible pursuant to paragraph (1), the employee shall be entitled to 10 days for the purpose of undergoing medical treatment, including mental health treatment, for his or her service-connected disability minus the time used before the disability rating decision, for the 12-month period beginning with the confirmation of submission of his or her disability application.
leave of absence for illness or injury granted under this subdivision is used for treatment of a service-connected disability may be required pursuant to rules adopted by the governing board of a school district.
employees than the rights established under this section.
Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 381, Sec. 1. (AB 2134) Effective January 1, 2025.
Section 44978 transferred to the subsequent employing entity. The subsequent employing entity shall honor a transfer request made at any time during the certificated employee’s employment with that school district, community college district, county office of education, or state special school.
or state special school shall provide all of the following information in responding to a request for the transfer of accumulated leave of absence for illness or injury from the subsequent employing entity:
state special school to waive any part or all of the leave of absence that the certificated employee may be entitled to have transferred pursuant to this section.
Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 381, Sec. 2. (AB 2134) Effective January 1, 2025.
A certificated employee of any school district or state special school who accepts a position requiring certification qualifications in the office of any county superintendent of schools; or, any certificated employee of any county superintendent of schools who accepts a position requiring certification qualifications in a school district, state special school, or office of another county superintendent of schools; or, any person employed by the department in a
position requiring certification qualifications or an employee of the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges who accepts a position requiring certification qualifications in any school district, state special school, or office of any county superintendent of schools; or, any certificated employee of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing who accepts a position requiring certification qualifications in any school district, state special school, or office of any county superintendent of schools; shall have transferred with the employee to the second position the employee’s accumulated total number of days of leave of absence for illness or injury. The amount of leave to be transferred shall be
determined in the same manner as provided in Section 44979. All other provisions of Section 44979 shall also apply to the employees and employers described in this section.
Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 123, Sec. 1.
Any days of leave of absence for illness or injury allowed pursuant to Section 44978 may be used by the employee, at his or her election in cases of personal necessity. The governing board of each school district and each office of county superintendent of schools shall adopt rules and regulations requiring and prescribing the manner of proof of personal necessity for purposes of this section.
The employee shall not be required to secure advance permission for leave taken for any of the following reasons:
No such accumulated leave in excess of seven (7) days may be used in any school year for the purposes enumerated in this section unless a maximum number of days in excess of seven (7) is specified for that purpose in an agreement between the exclusive bargaining representative and the district.
Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 381, Sec. 3. (AB 2134) Effective January 1, 2025.
A person employed by a school district, county superintendent of schools, or state special school in a position requiring certification qualifications who accepts a professional education position in the department, the appointment that is, or is intended to become, permanent, shall have transferred with the employee to the department the employee’s accumulated total number of days of leave of absence for illness or injury. The amount of that leave to be transferred shall be determined in the same manner as provided in Section 44979, except the transferred accumulated sick leave shall not exceed that amount of accumulated
sick leave that the person would have earned as an employee in the system to which the employee is transferring. All other provisions of Section 44979 shall also apply to the employees and employers described in this section.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
Section 44977 shall not apply to any school district which adopts and maintains in effect a rule which provides that when a person employed in a position requiring certification qualifications is absent from his duties on account of illness or accident for a period of five school months or less whether or not the absence arises out of or in the course of the employment of the employee, he shall receive 50 percent or more of his regular salary during the period of such absence and nothing in Section 44977 shall be construed as preventing the governing board of any district from adopting any such rule.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, when a person employed in a position requiring certification qualifications is absent from his duties on account of illness for a period of more than five school months, or when a person is absent from his duties for a cause other than illness, the amount deducted from the salary due him for the month in which the absence occurs shall be determined according to the rules and regulations established by the governing board of the district. Such rules and regulations shall not conflict with rules and regulations of the State Board of Education.
Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to deprive any district, city, or city and county of the right to make any reasonable rule for the regulation of accident or sick leave or cumulative accident or sick leave without loss of salary for persons requiring certification qualifications.
This section shall be applicable whether or not the absence from duty is by reason of a leave of absence granted by the governing board of the employing district.
Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 62. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.
schools of the school district are required to be in session or when the employee would otherwise have been performing work for the school district in any one fiscal year for the same accident.
industrial accident or illness leave, the employee shall be entitled to the benefits provided in Sections 44977, 44978, and 44983, and for purposes of each of these sections, the employee’s absence shall be deemed to have commenced on the date of termination of the industrial accident or illness leave, provided that if the employee continues to receive temporary disability indemnity, the employee may elect to take as much of his or her accumulated sick leave as, when added to his or her temporary disability indemnity, will result in a payment to him or her of not more than his or her full salary.
indemnity checks received on account of the employee’s industrial accident or illness. The school district, in turn, shall issue the employee appropriate salary warrants for payment of the employee’s salary and shall deduct normal retirement, other authorized contributions, and the temporary disability indemnity, if any, actually paid to and retained by the employee for periods covered by the salary warrants.
Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.
Every person employed by a school district in a position requiring certification qualifications is entitled to a leave of absence, not to exceed three days, or five days if out-of-state travel is required, on account of the death of any member of his immediate family. No deduction shall be made from the salary of such employee nor shall such leave be deducted from leave granted by other sections of this code or provided by the governing board of the district. The governing board may enlarge the benefits of this section and may expand the class of relatives listed below as members of the immediate family. Members of the immediate family, as used in this section, means the mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, or a grandchild of the employee or of the spouse of the employee, and the spouse, son, son-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, brother, or sister of the employee, or any relative living in the immediate household of the employee.
Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1144, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 1994.
Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1144, Sec. 16. Effective January 1, 1994.
Any member for whom the employer makes application for a disability benefit and whom the State Teachers’ Retirement System finds not to be disabled under this chapter, shall be reinstated to the former position upon receipt by the employer of notification from the system of the denial of the disability benefit.
Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 539, Sec. 2. (SB 294) Effective January 1, 2022.
contributions required of the school district as employer. The required employer contribution rate shall be the rate adopted by the Teachers’ Retirement Board as a plan amendment with respect to the Defined Benefit Program as provided in Section 22711. The employee shall earn full service credit during the leave of absence and shall pay member contributions as prescribed by Section 22711. Any employee who serves as a full-time officer of a public employee organization is not eligible for disability benefits under the State Teachers’ Retirement Plan while on the leave of absence.
by the employee organization shall be made within 10 days after its receipt of the school district’s certification of payment of compensation to the employee.
of schools.”
(A) The employee makes a written request to the employer for a leave of absence for the period of the elected-officer service.
(B) The employee organization of which the member is an elected officer pays to the member’s employer an
amount equal to the required State Teachers’ Retirement Plan member and employer retirement contributions, including regular interest on the balance of contributions due to the State Teachers’ Retirement System, calculated from the date the contributions would have been due when the elected-officer service was performed to the date payment is received by the State Teachers’ Retirement System, compounded daily based on the regular interest rate in effect the day the payment is received by the State Teachers’ Retirement System, as prescribed by this section.
System shall credit the employee with all service credit earned for the period of the elected-officer leave of absence.
Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 53, Sec. 15. (SB 512) Effective January 1, 2010.
committee, or group, in writing, informs the employee’s district of the service.
the school district’s certification of payment of compensation to the employee and of payment of compensation to the employee’s substitute.
Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1354, Sec. 47.5. Effective September 30, 1980.
Prior to July 1 of any school year, the governing board of any school district may designate other days during such year as the holidays to which certificated employees are entitled in lieu of the holidays on February 12 known as “Lincoln Day,” the third Monday in February known as “Washington Day,” the last Monday in May known as “Memorial Day,” or November 11 known as “Veterans Day,” provided that such designated days will provide for at least a three-day weekend. Certificated employees shall be required to work on the regular holiday for which another day is designated pursuant to this section, and for work of eight hours or less, shall be paid compensation at their regular rate of pay.
If any certificated employee would be entitled to the regular paid holiday but would not be in a paid status during any portion of the working day immediately preceding or succeeding the day so designated in lieu of such holiday and therefore would not be entitled to such day in lieu of the holiday, he or she shall be entitled to the regular holiday.
This section shall not be construed to authorize the maintenance of schools on holidays other than as provided in Article 3 (commencing with Section 37220) of Chapter 2 of Part 22.