The organization of districts as they existed on Jan. 1, 1981, and local education agency needs and concerns serve as the basis for reorganization within San Diego County. Twenty-three elementary, six high school, and 13 unified school districts, and five community college districts serve students in kindergarten through grade 14 and adults.
State law establishes requirements for school and community college district reorganization. Reorganization proposals include transfers of territory, unification, annexation, or unionization, and may involve election of governing board members for the reorganized district.
The San Diego County Board of Education serves as the San Diego County Committee on School District Organization. The county committee is charged with the responsibility of handling school and community college district reorganization. The county superintendent of schools may provide specified services with respect to the reorganization of districts.
The county committee encourages affected districts to agree on the method of a proposed reorganization before the petition procedure is initiated by district(s), property owners, or electors. Districts considering reorganization may request assistance from the San Diego County Office of Education. Contact Legal Services for additional information.
The School District Organization Handbook, published by the California Department of Education, provides details and flowcharts on the requirements and procedures established under state law. Applicable processes are summarized below.
Transfer of Territory
Education Code sections 35500 et seq., and 35700 et seq.
Download "Transfer of Territory" as PDF
- Governing board(s), registered electors, or property owners develop reasonable identification of territory to be transferred. A map and legal description are not a prerequisite for filing a valid petition.
- Affected school district governing board(s) approve petition to transfer territory. A petition of 25 percent of the registered electors residing in the territory proposed to be transferred, or property owner(s) if uninhabited, also initiates the process.
- Upon submission of the signed petition to the County Superintendent of Schools, the County Superintendent transmits the petition, if sufficient, to the County Committee on School District Organization and the State Board of Education.
- The county committee notifies the local agency formation commission (LAFCO).
- The county committee may add to the petition. A report of the County Assessor for the Boundary Commission is requested. The description of the petition is made available to the public ten days prior to the public hearings.
- The county committee holds public hearings at regular/special meetings in each affected district within 60 days of the transmittal.
- The county committee shall conduct an initial study and file a Negative Declaration in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
- Within 120 days after commencement of the first public hearing on the petition, the county committee shall approve or disapprove the petition.
- The county committee may approve the petition and order the petition granted if conditions of Education Code section 35753(a) are substantially met and if (1) uninhabited territory with owner(s') and governing boards' consent, or (2) inhabited territory, less than 10 percent assessed valuation, and governing boards' consent.
- If the county committee approves other petitions to transfer territory, it shall notify the county superintendent to call an election in the territory of the districts as determined by the county committee.
- If the transfer is granted or approved at an election, the Board of Supervisors makes the order to reestablish boundaries. Action is complete on the date of the Board of Supervisors' action, and is effective for all purposes on July 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which all action is completed.
Other Types of Reorganization
Education Code sections 35500 et seq., and 35700 et seq.
Download "Other Types of Reorganization" as PDF
School district reorganization proposals include unification, unionization, formation, and other types of reorganization. Actions to reorganize may be initiated by petition of:
- Governing boards of the districts affected;
- Twenty-five percent of the registered voters residing in the territory proposed to be reorganized;
- Ten percent of the qualified electors residing in any district for consideration of unification or other reorganization; or
- A resolution from a city council, board of supervisors, governing body of a special district, or local agency formation commission.
The following list provides a reference to the major requirements and processes of a school district reorganization proposal:
- Initiation of a reorganization proposal
- Written notification of specified state and local agencies
- Public hearings by county committee following receipt of petition
- Recommendations of county committee; approval/disapproval
- Grant or deny petition (county committee); tentative and final recommendations
- Transmittal of recommendation to State Board of Education
- State Board of Education hearing; approval
- Reorganization proposal approved by majority of voters
- Board of Supervisors order filed with the State Board of Equalization
Reorganization Elections
Download "Reorganization Elections" as PDF
The County Superintendent of Schools shall order elections to reorganize school or community college districts as required by action of the County Committee on School District Organization, the California State Board of Education, or the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. The election shall be held on an established election date, and the cost of the election shall be a charge against the County School Service Fund in San Diego County. The area of election may be determined in accordance with applicable Education Code provisions by the type of reorganization proposed, approved plans and recommendations for the reorganization, court decisions on area of interest, or action of the county committee, State Board of Education, or Board of Governors. A majority vote is required to authorize district reorganization. When voters approve a reorganization, the Board of Supervisors makes the order to reestablish boundaries. Action is complete on the date of the Board of Supervisors' action. The reorganization is effective for all purposes on July 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the action is complete.
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