What are the requirements for school in California?

California school requirements involve mandatory attendance (ages 6-18), specific vaccination records, and for high school graduation, core courses like English, Math, Science, Social Science, P.E., plus a year of Arts/World Language/CTE, with districts setting additional local requirements and the state adding Ethnic Studies and Personal Finance soon. University admission often needs "a-g" courses (more rigorous than minimums) and a GPA.

What are the school requirements in California?

The California Education Code specifies minimum course requirements for the state's public school system: three years of instruction in both English and history/social science, two years in both math and science, and one year of either visual or performing arts, a foreign language, or career technical education.

What shots are required for school in California?

Immunization Requirements for School Entry

• Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP, DTP, Tdap, or Td) — 5 doses. (4 doses OK if one was given on or after 4th birthday. ...
• Polio (OPV or IPV) — 4 doses. (3 doses OK if one was given on or after 4th birthday. ...
• Hepatitis B — 3 doses. ...
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) — 2 doses.

What do you need to enroll a child in school in California?

Things you'll need:

Your student's birth certificate. Proof of residency, such as a utility bill showing your name and address. Medical records, i.e., immunization records or exemption (required for public school enrollment) Student transcripts from any previous school attendance.

Are kids required to go to school in California?

California's compulsory education laws require children between six and eighteen years of age to attend school, with a limited number of specified exceptions.

What Are The UC A-G Requirements? - The College Explorer

What happens if a kid doesn't go to school in California?

Legal Action—Student

If the student's attendance continues to be poor, the student is considered a habitual truant. The student and the parent/guardian may be referred by the school to SARB or to a truancy mediation program (or another comparable program approved by the district's attendance supervisor).

Is it illegal to not send your kids to school in California?

California truancy laws require children to go to school.

What is the new law for schools in California?

California has several new school laws taking effect in 2025-2026, focusing on student well-being and equity, including mandatory gender-neutral bathrooms, student ID cards with crisis hotlines, fentanyl education, phone-free school policies, ending willful defiance suspensions, banning book bans, healthier school lunches, and protections against immigration enforcement on campuses. These laws aim to improve mental health, increase safety, promote inclusivity, and support student learning. 

What does my child need to take to school?

Your child will need a full school uniform, a comfortable pair of shoes and a coat. Include a water bottle and a backpack that fits everything easily. You'll also need a pencil case with basic stationery such as pens, pencils, erasers, a sharpener and colouring pens.

Why does California rank low in education?

(they're) making progress.” Both Garbolino-Mojica and Jones attribute socioeconomic diversity through the state of California the primary contributor to its low educational ranking. “I think that there has been a correlation (between socioeconomic status and education performance).

Can my child attend school if not vaccinated in California?

Under California law, students who are entering childcare or school are required to submit proof that they have received vaccines. School immunization requirements protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, mumps, and pertussis (whooping cough).

Can you refuse to vaccinate your child in California?

No, you generally cannot refuse mandatory childhood vaccinations in California for personal or religious reasons if your child attends public or private school/childcare, as Senate Bill 277 eliminated those exemptions, but you can still get a medical exemption for documented physical conditions, or potentially homeschool to avoid requirements, though homeschooling has its own rules. California law only allows medical exemptions for children with specific health conditions that make vaccines unsafe, requiring a doctor's statement, and has tightened oversight on these exemptions. 

What is the new immunization law in California?

California's recent significant vaccine law is Assembly Bill 144 (AB 144), signed by Governor Newsom in September 2025, which establishes the CDC's recommended immunization schedule (as of Jan 1, 2025) as the state's baseline, mandates insurance coverage for these vaccines, and allows the state to add to these requirements, ensuring broader vaccine access despite potential federal changes.
 

Is kindergarten mandatory in CA?

But kindergarten, a staple of elementary schools for more than a century, remains optional. Despite nearly a half dozen legislative attempts to require it, California is one of 32 states that doesn't mandate that all 5-year-olds attend school.

What new laws are coming to California in 2026?

California's new laws for 2026 cover diverse areas, including capping insulin costs, improving housing standards (refrigerators in rentals), enhancing workplace protections (pay equity, sexual assault statute of limitations), bolstering civil rights in schools, expanding the CARE Act for severe mental illness, updating autonomous vehicle regulations, and requiring AI chatbots to disclose their nature and report self-harm risks. Many laws took effect January 1st, with others rolling out later in the year, impacting healthcare, employment, education, and consumer safety. 

What do I need to put my son in school?

What paperwork do I need?

1. Proof of residency in the school district. This means you have to prove you live in your house or apartment. ...
2. Proof of age. For example, a birth certificate or passport with your child's birthday.
3. Immunizations or other health records. These requirements vary by school district.
4. Your income.

Is 7 absences bad in school?

Yes, 7 absences can be considered bad and concerning, often crossing the line into "chronic absenteeism" (missing 10% of school, around 18 days/year) or even triggering truancy in some areas, leading to learning gaps, difficulty reading, and lower graduation rates, though the impact varies by school policy and if absences are excused or unexcused. It's crucial to check your specific school's policy as they often have different rules for excused vs. unexcused absences and can intervene with support for excessive absences. 

What is the 9 minute rule for kids?

The "9-Minute Rule" for kids, based on Jaak Panksepp's theory, suggests focusing on three key 3-minute interaction periods daily: right after waking, right after school/daycare, and right before bed, to build strong emotional connections through warmth, presence, and positive reinforcement, fostering security and communication. It emphasizes quality over quantity, meaning even a few minutes of undivided, focused attention during these transition times makes a big difference, helping kids feel loved and safe. 

What do kids need for school?

No matter what grade your child is stepping into, they will benefit from these universal school supplies:

• Backpack/book bag.
• Lunchbox.
• Folders.
• Writing utensils.
• Notebooks.
• Tissues.
• Hand sanitizer.
• Water bottle (check out Stanley's back to school collection)

What is the 7 minute rule in California?

The "California 7-Minute Rule" refers to a payroll rounding practice, permitted under federal law (FLSA) but increasingly challenged in CA courts, where an employer can round clock-in/out times to the nearest 15-minute (quarter-hour) mark, as long as the policy is neutral and doesn't systematically underpay workers. It allows rounding punches within 7 minutes and 59 seconds (e.g., 8:00-8:07 rounds to 8:00, 8:08-8:22 rounds to 8:15). While once common, recent California rulings, like Donohue, question its legality, especially for meal breaks, with a pending Supreme Court case (Camp v. Home Depot) potentially ending permissible rounding for work time too.
 

Is it illegal to not send your child to school in California?

Penalties

Failure to supervise a pupil's school attendance is a misdemeanor offense that is punishable by up to a year in jail if convicted.

Did Bill 665 pass in California?

Yes, California's Assembly Bill 665 (AB 665) from the 2023-2024 session did pass and was signed into law, becoming Chapter 338, Statutes of 2023, on October 7, 2023, making it easier for minors (ages 12+) with Medi-Cal to consent to outpatient mental health services by aligning it with rules for privately insured youth. Another AB 665 from the 2025-2026 session also passed, focusing on financial reporting, but the widely discussed youth mental health bill is the 2023 version.
 

What happens to parents whose kids don't go to school?

Schools handle minor truancy with warning letters, parent-teacher conferences and other means. However, in some states, parents can be fined when their kids miss too much school.

What is the biggest mistake in custody battle?

The biggest mistake in a custody battle is losing focus on the child's best interests, often driven by parental anger or revenge, which leads to actions like bad-mouthing the other parent, using the child as a messenger, or violating court orders, all of which significantly harm your case and the child's well-being. Courts prioritize stability, cooperation, and the child's emotional health, so actions that undermine these principles are viewed very negatively. 

Can parents go to jail for child missing school in California?

And Newsom in early October signed a bill ending California's policy of punishing parents with a fine or a year in jail for their children's chronic truancy.