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HomeEducation CodeDiv. 3Pt. 21Ch. 4Art. 5§ 35780 School District Lapsation Rules

§ 35780 School District Lapsation Rules

Education Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 35780 School District Lapsation Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •If a school district has been around for more than three years but has fewer than six voters or very few students (less than six in grades K-8 or less than 11 in grades 9-12), it can be closed down.
  • •The county can wait one more year to close the school if the school board and the county superintendent agree.
  • •If a new school district doesn’t build schools or provide teachers for its students within five years, it can be closed down or go back to how it was before.
  • •A school district can also be closed if it has no school buildings or land to build schools on, or if the school board and county superintendent agree to close it.

Example

A small town has a school district with only five families living there. Only four kids go to the school, and they are all in grades 1 through 5.

Because there are fewer than six students in grades K-8, the school district can be closed down. The county might give it one more year if the school board and county superintendent agree, but if nothing changes, the school will close.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 35780 School District Lapsation Rules

(a) A school district that has been organized for more than three years shall be lapsed as provided in this article if the number of registered electors in the school district is less than six or if the average daily attendance of pupils in the school or schools maintained by the school district is less than six in kindergarten and grades 1 to 8, inclusive, or is less than 11 in grades 9 to 12, inclusive. The county board of education may defer the lapsation of the school district for one year upon adoption of a resolution approved by a majority of the members of the governing board of the school district and written concurrence of the county superintendent of schools. (b) For a new district that has been unable to provide the school facilities necessary for instructional services by employees of the school district to all of the pupils who are residents of the school district after five years from the date that the reorganization became effective, the county committee on school district organization, upon direction from the state board, shall initiate lapsation procedures pursuant to Section 35783 or revert the reorganized district to its original status. (c) A school district may also be lapsed when there are no school facilities or sites on which to maintain any school in the school district. (d) A school district may also be lapsed upon adoption of a resolution approved by a majority of the members of the governing board of the school district and written concurrence of the county superintendent of schools. (Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 52, Sec. 13. (AB 181) Effective June 30, 2022.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

lapsedregistered electorsaverage daily attendanceschool facilitiesgoverning boardcounty superintendent of schools

Related Statutes

  • § 17456 School District Property Sales
  • § 17486 Playground Land Disposal
  • § 17487 Schoolsite Definition
  • § 17488 Schoolsite Sale Lease Authority
  • § 17490 Schoolsite Retention Authority

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Education Code. Section 35780.
View Official Source