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Waivers

Help for local educational agencies in requesting a waiver from the California State Board of Education; provides flexibility to the California Education Code, Title 5 Regulation, and the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Waiver Process for the California State Board of Education

This page is designed to provide local educational agencies with information and forms to prepare a waiver request.


The purpose of a waiver is to provide flexibility in a school district or county office of education without undermining the basic intent of the law. The governing board of a school district or county office of education may request a waiver of parts of the California Education Code and regulations. The State Board of Education (SBE) may approve such waivers under the general waiver authority, sections 33050-33053. Some statutes are excluded from the general waiver authority (Posted 4-Nov-08; DOC; 52KB; 4pp.).

Specific waivers are granted under the authority given to the SBE in various specific Education Code sections and are generally more limited in scope. The specific authority most commonly used is Education Code Section 56101 for students with disabilities. In addition to school districts and county office governing boards, Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPA's) may request this waiver for students with disabilities.

  • Training about waivers and the waiver process is available for small groups via telephone and internet. Call the main telephone number listed below for more information.

NEW - The SBE wants all waiver forms and back-up materials to be electronically submitted so that they can be linked to the agenda. Please download new forms and send to waiver@cde.ca.gov .

Table of Contents:

Hot Topics
Go to our Hot Topics page to get the latest forms and information on the following:

Other Topics of Interest

Waiver Forms
Forms for preparing waiver requests. The forms are in Word Format.

2010 Waiver Calendar
Calendar and deadlines for the State Board of Education meetings.

2011 Waiver Calendar
Calendar and deadlines for the State Board of Education meetings.

Waiver Contact Guide
List of topics of waiver requests and the corresponding department staff with phone numbers.

Waiver Reports
For the years 2005 through 2009.

Waiver Policies
Here are the most current ones available. Waiver policies that used to reside on the State Board of Education's web site are now on this page.

Contact the Waiver Office:

Mailing Address:

California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 5602
Sacramento, CA 95814

Telephone Numbers:

Main Telephone Number: 916-319-0824
Fax Number: 916-319-0117
Christine Gordon, Education Programs Consultant: 916-319-0823
Joann Bonillas, Analyst: 916-319-0592
Kimberly Kearsing, Office Technician: 916-319-0593

E-mail Addresses:

cgordon@cde.ca.gov
jbonilla@cde.ca.gov
kkearsing@cde.ca.gov

Other Places to visit:

Link to CalEdFacts

For more information on the State Board of Education, visit its Web site at: State Board of Education.
Got a question regarding teaching credentials waivers? Go to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. (Outside Source)

Are you looking for a particular Special Education Certified Nonpublic School/Agency?
For a searchable list go to the California Certified Nonpublic, Nonsectarian Schools and Agencies Database. (Outside Source - Revised 30-Aug-05)

Questions:  Waiver Office | 916-319-0824
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