1.1.1 What Are These Legal Codes?

What Are These Legal Codes?

Throughout the handbook, you will see citations of different types of legal codes. The information in these codes is legally required to be shared with you, and the code citations are helpful reference points for you to understand the source of the rule — federal, state or local. 

The codes are referenced in the following way: Code name - section number.

    The different types of codes you will see in the book are:

    California Education Code

    The Education Code is a collection of laws created by California state legislators. All local school boards throughout California are responsible for complying with these codes. 
    Example: (CA Education Code 48900(o))

    SFUSD Board of Education Policy

    The Education Code is at times applied in SFUSD through Board of Education policies. These policies clarify how SFUSD implements the Education Code. The SFUSD Board of Education votes on these policies — they apply to SFUSD only. SFUSD Board Policies are online on BoardDocs. 
    Example: (SFUSD Board Policy 3260)

    Administrative Regulations

    Administrative Regulations are adopted by the Superintendent to put Board Policies into practice. SFUSD Administrative Regulations are online on BoardDocs. 
    Example: (SFUSD Administrative Regulation 5145.3)

    Other codes you may see referenced are:

    • California Penal Code contains state criminal laws.
      Example:  (CA Penal Code 626.4, 626.7)
    • California Code of Regulations are regulations adopted to implement state law.
      Example: (5 CA Code of Regulations 4610) 
    • Code of Federal Regulations implements federal statutes.
      Example: (Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 40, Part 763, Subpart E)
    • An Assembly Bill or Senate Bill is a proposal to make or amend a law, introduced either in the state Assembly (AB) or in the Senate (SB).
      Example: Assembly Bill 490
    • Public Law is a federal public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers of Congress and been enacted into law.
      Example: (Public Law 107-110, Section 722(g)(3)(E)(iv))

    This page was last updated on September 6, 2022