LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeEducation CodeDiv. 4Pt. 28Ch. 4Art. 2§ 51512 Classroom Recording Consent Requirement

§ 51512 Classroom Recording Consent Requirement

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

§ 51512 Classroom Recording Consent Requirement

Key Takeaways

  • •You can't record or listen in on a classroom without the teacher and principal saying it's okay first.
  • •If an adult breaks this rule on purpose, they can get in trouble with the law.
  • •If a student breaks this rule, they can get punished by the school.
  • •This rule doesn’t change any other laws about recording devices.

Example

A parent secretly records a teacher during class because they want to hear how the teacher talks to students.

This is not allowed unless the teacher and principal said it was okay first. The parent could get in trouble with the law for doing this.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 51512 Classroom Recording Consent Requirement

The Legislature finds that the use by any person, including a pupil, of any electronic listening or recording device in any classroom of the elementary and secondary schools without the prior consent of the teacher and the principal of the school given to promote an educational purpose disrupts and impairs the teaching process and discipline in the elementary and secondary schools, and such use is prohibited. Any person, other than a pupil, who willfully violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any pupil violating this section shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. This section shall not be construed as affecting the powers, rights, and liabilities arising from the use of electronic listening or recording devices as provided for by any other provision of law. (Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

schooleducationstudentlegislatureteachermisdemeanorin california

Related Statutes

  • § 33502 Educational Innovation Commission Members
  • § 54405 Teacher Training For Disadvantaged
  • § 54421 Early Childhood Compensatory Education
  • § 54481 Class Size Reduction Funding
  • § 66205.5 Dual Enrollment Academic Standards

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Education Code. Section 51512.
View Official Source