Chapter 5. Cooperative Improvement Programs of California Education Code >> Division 1. >> Title 1. >> Part 7. >> Chapter 5.

It is the intent and purpose of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to encourage local school districts and community college districts to improve their educational systems and to enrich their educational offerings by utilizing, whenever possible and appropriate, resources which exist in the community. Such resources may include, but not be limited to, business, industry, institutions of higher learning, private consulting firms, other school districts, community college districts, the University of California, or the State of California itself. In the implementation of this chapter, particular emphasis is to be placed upon programs oriented toward agriculture, science, business and commerce, vocational education, teacher training, and, with reference to district administration, development of modern budgetary techniques, such as program planning and budgeting.

School districts, community college districts, or schools or colleges within districts, may enter into cooperative or contractual arrangements with business, industry, or elements within the community for improvement of the local education program. Such arrangements may include evaluation, planning, cooperation in the operation of educational programs, and use of noncertificated personnel, including the elderly, youth, college students, and other nonprofessionals.

Nothing in this chapter is intended to modify the law with respect to experimental mathematics and reading programs established under the McAteer Act Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 54400) of Part 29 of Division 4 of Title 2 or is to be construed to authorize school districts or community college districts to contract for services required to be performed by classified school employees.

The governing board of a school district or community college district may request waiver of any section or sections of this code relating to the educational programs or administrative functions described in Section 10400 if the waiver is necessary to establish and operate a program under this chapter. The need for a waiver shall be explained and justified to the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the case may be, and the State Board of Education, or the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the case may be, may grant, in whole, or in part, any waiver request.