Policy 5113.2 - Work Permits
Series: 5000 - Students
Policy: 5113.2 - Work Permits
Adopted: 06/02/1998
Last Revised: 05/05/2026
Last Reviewed: 05/05/2026
Work Permits
The Board of Education recognizes that part-time employment can provide students with income, job experience, and valuable life skills and should be permitted to the extent that such employment does not interfere with a student's education. Before accepting any offer of employment, district students who are minors shall obtain work permits from the Superintendent or designee, regardless of whether the employment will occur when school is in session, unless otherwise exempted by law.
Students with work permits shall be exempted from attendance in a full-time day school provided they attend part-time classes.
In determining whether to grant or continue a work permit, the Superintendent or designee shall consider whether employment is likely to significantly interfere with the student's schoolwork. Students granted work permits shall be required to demonstrate and maintain a 2.0 grade point average and satisfactory school attendance, except during periods of extended school closure due to an emergency as described in Education Code 49200 and the accompanying Board rule. On a case-by-case basis, the Superintendent or designee may approve a maximum work hour limit that is lower than the limit specified in law and Board rule.
Work permits shall be limited to part-time employment as defined by law, except when the Superintendent or designee determines that circumstances warrant the granting of a permit for full-time employment.
Any student authorized to work full time when school is in session shall be enrolled in part-time continuation classes. Additionally, a student 14 or 15 years of age who receives a permit to work full time shall also be enrolled in a work experience education program.
Rule 5113.1
Last Revised: 05/05/2026
Last Reviewed: 05/05/2026
Before accepting employment, a student under the age of 18 who is subject to the state's compulsory attendance law, including students who have not yet graduated from high school or have not received a certificate of proficiency, shall obtain a work permit.
Last Reviewed: 05/05/2026
Before accepting employment, a student under the age of 18 who is subject to the state's compulsory attendance law, including students who have not yet graduated from high school or have not received a certificate of proficiency, shall obtain a work permit.
The district may issue a permit authorizing employment while school is in session, including employment connected with a work experience education program pursuant to Education Code 51760-51769.5, to a student 14-17 years of age.
If a student has obtained an offer of employment in the entertainment industry, the student shall request a work permit from the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, pursuant to Labor Code 1308.5 and 8 CCR 11752-11753.
A work permit shall not be required for a student who meets all of the following criteria:
- Is not receiving pay or financial reimbursement for services rendered in volunteer services or educational purposes
- Is not in an employer-employee relationship in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is serving as an unpaid trainee or volunteer or in an in-school placement
- Has submitted written parent/guardian permission.
In addition, a student shall not be required to obtain a work permit if the student is self-employed; is working at odd jobs such as yard work and babysitting in private homes where the student is not regularly employed; is a self-employed news carrier delivering newspapers to consumers on a regular route; is employed in agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, domestic labor during non-school hours when the work is performed for or under the control of the parent/guardian and is performed upon or in connection with premises the parent/guardian owns, operates, or controls; or is otherwise exempted by law.
Permits to Work When School is Not in Session
Students 12 through 17 years of age may receive a permit to work on a regular school holiday, during a regular or specified occasional public school vacation, and when the student is exempt from compulsory school attendance because the student arrived from another state within 10 days before the end of the school term.
Persons Authorized to Issue Work Permits
The following individuals are authorized to issue a work permit to a student in the district:
- The Superintendent or designee
- An employee holding a services credential with a specialization in pupil personnel services or a certificated work experience education teacher or coordinator, when authorized by the Superintendent in writing
- A principal, or another school administrator designated by the principal, provided that the principal or designee:
(a) Provides a self-certification that the principal or designee understands the requirements of law for issuing a work permit
(b) Does not issue a work permit to the principal’s or designee’s own child
If the person designated to issue work permits is not available and delay in issuing a permit would jeopardize a student's ability to secure work, the Superintendent may authorize another person to issue the permit.
Application and Approval of Work Permits
The student's parent/guardian, foster parent, caregiver with whom the student resides, or residential shelter services provider shall file a written request for a work permit.
The request for a work permit shall be submitted to the person(s) authorized to issue work permits on a form approved by the California Department of Education (CDE).
If the student is applying for a full-time work permit, the student and the student's parent/guardian shall generally be required to appear before, and submit the application to, the Superintendent or designee.
The person(s) authorized to issue work permits shall, before or at the time of signing the work permit, issue the student a document clearly explaining basic labor rights extended to workers, as specified in Education Code 49110.5.
In the event of an extended physical closure of the campus due to a natural disaster, pandemic, or other emergency, the required documentation, including signatures, may be collected electronically. In addition, if the application is for a full-time work permit, the student and parent/guardian shall not be required to appear in person before the Superintendent or designee if the completed application has been successfully submitted electronically and the student and parent/guardian have attended a video conference with the person issuing the work permit.
The Superintendent or designee shall have discretion to determine whether to issue the work permit.
In determining whether to approve a work permit, the Superintendent or designee shall verify the student's date of birth, the type of work permit to be issued, and whether the student meets any other criteria established by the Board of Education. The Superintendent or designee may inspect the student's records and/or may confer with at least one of the student's teachers for evidence of satisfactory grades and school attendance and to determine whether the student possesses the motivation and maturity to maintain academic progress while working.
However, a work permit shall not be denied based on a student's grades, grade point average, or school attendance under either of the following circumstances:
- The student's school has been physically closed for an extended time due to a natural disaster, pandemic, or other emergency
- The student is applying for a work permit in order to participate in a government-administered employment and training program that will occur during the regular summer recess or vacation of the student's school
After issuing a work permit, the Superintendent or designee shall periodically inspect the student's scholastic and attendance records to ensure maintenance of academic progress, and any additional criteria established in Board policy.
Students shall not be approved to work in environments declared hazardous or dangerous for young workers or otherwise prohibited by child labor laws.
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the requested work hours do not exceed the maximum work hours specified in law based on the student's age and whether the employment will occur while school is in session and/or not in session.
Full-time employment may be authorized for students aged 14-17 only in accordance with Education Code 49130-49135.
All work permits shall be issued on forms provided by or authorized by CDE.
All work permits shall be issued on forms provided by or authorized by CDE.
Each permit shall authorize work for a specific employer. Whenever a student changes employers, the student shall request a new permit.
The student may be issued more than one work permit if the student works concurrently for more than one employer, provided that the total number of hours worked does not exceed the total number of hours allowed by law and the district.
Whenever a work permit is issued by a principal or other designated school administrator, the principal or designee shall retain a copy of the work permit issued, along with a copy of the application and a self- certification that the principal or designee understands the requirements in existing law for issuing a work permit.
Expiration of Work Permits
Work permits issued during the school year shall expire five days after the opening of the next succeeding school year.
Before the work permit expires, a student may apply for a renewed work permit in accordance with the procedures specified in “Application and Approval of Work Permits” process above.
Revocation of Work Permits
The Superintendent or designee shall revoke a student's work permit whenever the Superintendent or designee determines that employment is impairing the student's health or education, any provision or condition of the permit is being violated, the student is performing work in violation of law, or any condition for the issuance of the permit no longer exists or never existed.
The Superintendent may revoke a work permit issued by a principal of a public or private school located within the district if the Superintendent becomes aware of any grounds upon which the student may be deemed ineligible for a work permit under law.
Retention of Records:
In accordance with Board Rule 3580 - District Records, the Superintendent or designee shall retain a copy of the work permit application and the work permit until the end of the fourth year after the work permit was issued.
Legal References
Policy Reference Disclaimer:
These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority for the Board to enact this policy. Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy.
STATE
CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS
5 CCR 10120-10121 Work permits
5 CCR 16023-16027 District records; retention and destruction
8 CCR 11701-11707 Prohibited and dangerous occupations for minors
8 CCR 11750-11763 Work permits and conditions; minor employed in entertainment industry
EDUCATION CODE
48230 Exemption from full-time school attendance for students with work permits
48231 Exemption from compulsory attendance for students entering attendance area near end of term
49100-49101 Compulsory attendance
49110-49119 Permits to work
49130-49135 Permits to work full time
49140-49141 Exceptions
49160-49165 Employment of minors; duties of employers
49180-49183 Violations
49200 Permit to work during extended emergency school closure
51760-51769.5 Work experience education
52300-52462 Career technical education
LABOR CODE
1285-1312 Employment of minors
1391-1394 Working hours for minors
FEDERAL
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
29 CFR 570.1-570.129 Child labor regulations
MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION
18 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 114 (1951)
CA DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS PUBLICATION
Child Labor Laws, 2013
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATION
Basic Labor Rights Information Sheet Template
Statement of Intent to Employ a Minor and Request for a Work Permit - Certificate of Age, Form B1-1
Permit to Employ and Work, Form B1-4
WEBSITES
CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services https://legalservices.csba.org/#
California Department of Education, Work Experience Education http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/ct/we
California Department of Industrial Relations http://www.dir.ca.gov/