Local educational agencies: county boards of education: governing boards of school districts: governing bodies of charter schools: pupil members.

(1) Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary education in this state under which local educational agencies, such as school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law establishes governing bodies for these local educational agencies. Existing law authorizes school district governing boards to appoint one or more high school pupils as members in response to a petition from high school pupils of the school district requesting the governing board to appoint one or more pupil members. This bill would authorize county boards of education and charter schools to also appoint one or more high school pupils as members of their governing bodies in response to petitions from high school pupils enrolled in their county, as specified, or in their charter school, as appropriate. The bill would require policies and procedures for the selection of pupils to serve on a county board of education to ensure and protect the privacy of each pupil, and of the parents or guardians of each pupil, involved in proceedings before the county board of education acting in its capacity as an appellate body. Because the bill would add to the duties of county boards of education and governing bodies of charter schools to respond to petitions from high school pupils, it would constitute a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize the terms of pupil members of the governing boards of school districts, county boards of education, and governing bodies of charter schools to be adjusted only in cases where a vacancy occurs or to provide more pupils with an opportunity to serve on that governing board or body. The bill would add provisions so that specified requirements relating to the selection and service of pupil members of these governing boards or bodies would conform to one another. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.