The School District Organization Handbook is an official publication from the California Department of Education (CDE). It serves as the primary reference for community members, school district administrators, county committees, and policymakers involved in school district reorganization.

This guide provides an overview of what’s inside the handbook and how to use it effectively. It does not replace the handbook but helps readers navigate its contents and find the information they need.

What's in the Handbook?

The handbook covers every aspect of school district reorganization, including:

• Legal Framework: Key California Education Code sections governing district reorganization.
• Reorganization Procedures: Step-by-step guidance on forming, merging, splitting, and transferring district territories.
• Roles and Responsibilities: The functions of county committees, the State Board of Education, and local agencies.
• Petition and Approval Process: Requirements for submitting and approving district changes.
• Financial and Legal Considerations: The impact of reorganization on funding, governance, and district operations.
• Public Hearings and Elections: Procedures for community input and voting on district changes.
• Appeals Process: How to challenge district reorganization decisions.
• Community College District Reorganization: Special rules for restructuring community college districts.

How to Use This Guide

This guide links to each chapter in the School District Organization Handbook and explains its purpose, and how to use it effectively.

• Preface: Understanding School District Boundaries and Changes – Provides an overview of how school district boundaries evolve, including district mergers, transfers, and terminations.
• Chapter 1: Legal Foundations and Key Terms – Lists the core laws and regulations that shape school district organization and defines commonly used terms.
• Chapter 2: History of School District Organization in California – Explores past legislative efforts to consolidate and restructure school districts.
• Chapter 3: Organization and Responsibilities of the County Committee – Details the role of county committees, how they are formed, and their responsibilities in approving or denying district changes.
• Chapter 4: Roles and Responsibilities of the State Board of Education – Explains the function of the State Board of Education in the school district organization process and its interactions with county committees.
• Chapter 5: Reorganization of School Districts in California – Outlines the process of forming new school districts, dissolving districts, and transferring district territories, including petition requirements.
• Chapter 6: Legal Criteria Governing Reorganization Proposals – Describes the minimum legal standards that district reorganization proposals must meet to be approved.
• Chapter 7: Public Hearings and Election Procedures – Covers public hearing requirements, the election process, and voting guidelines for district reorganizations.
• Chapter 8: School District Formation Guidelines – Provides recommendations for establishing new school districts, including interim governance structures and operational planning.
• Chapter 9: Effects of School District Organization – Discusses the impact of district reorganizations on school employees, funding, and property transfers.
• Chapter 10: Additional County Committee Responsibilities – Details additional duties of county committees, including modifying trustee areas and election procedures.
• Chapter 11: The Appeals Process – Explains how petitioners and school districts can appeal reorganization decisions made by county committees.
• Chapter 12: Community College District Reorganization – Covers the legal requirements for reorganizing community college districts and their governance structures.

Appendices

The handbook also contains appendices with supporting materials:

• Appendix A: Regulations and Criteria for District Reorganization – State Board of Education rules for approving or rejecting reorganization proposals.
• Appendix B: Sample Bylaws for County Committees – Example guidelines for structuring county committees on school district organization.
• Appendix C: Reorganization of Districts Across County Lines – Explains the process for school district changes that involve multiple counties.
• Appendix D: State Board of Equalization Boundary Changes – Covers the role of the State Board of Equalization in jurisdictional boundary modifications.
• Appendix E: Sample Petition for Transfer of Territory – Provides a template for submitting a request to transfer a district’s territory.
• Appendix F: CEQA Filing Fee No Effect Determination Form – Outlines environmental impact considerations for district reorganizations.
• Appendix G: Environmental Checklist and Public Hearing Guidelines – Describes environmental review procedures and requirements for public hearings.
• Appendix H: California Environmental Quality Act Forms – Collection of CEQA-related forms required for school district reorganization processes.
• Appendix I: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Filing Fee No Effect Determination Form – Document used to confirm whether a project is exempt from CEQA filing fees.
• Appendix J: Guidelines for Public Hearing Agenda – Framework for structuring public hearing agendas related to school district reorganization proposals.
• Appendix K: Suggested Procedures for a Public Hearing Conducted by the County Committee on School District Organization – Step-by-step guide for county committees to ensure compliance with public hearing requirements.
• Appendix L: Sample Initial Agenda for the Governing Board of a New School District – Template agenda for the first official meeting of a newly formed school district’s governing board.
• Appendix M: Handbook for Conducting Racial and Ethnic Studies in School Districts – Guide to best practices for analyzing racial and ethnic demographics in school district organization decisions.

For full details on school district organization, refer to the official School District Organization Handbook published by the California Department of Education.

To request additional guidance or materials, contact sdo@cde.ca.gov.