Article 2. Definitions of California Education Code >> Division 1. >> Title 1. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.

The definitions in this article shall govern the use of the terms defined for purposes of this chapter.

"Disability" includes mental and physical disability as defined in Section 12926 of the Government Code.

"Disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code" includes a perception that the person has any of those characteristics or that the person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of those characteristics.

"Educational institution" means a public or private preschool, elementary, or secondary school or institution; the governing board of a school district; or any combination of school districts or counties recognized as the administrative agency for public elementary or secondary schools.

"Gender" means sex, and includes a person's gender identity and gender expression. "Gender expression" means a person's gender-related appearance and behavior whether or not stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth.

"Governing board" means the governing board of a school district.

"Nationality" includes citizenship, country of origin, and national origin.

"Race or ethnicity" includes ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, and ethnic background.

"Religion" includes all aspects of religious belief, observance, and practice and includes agnosticism and atheism.

"Sexual harassment" means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, made by someone from or in the work or educational setting, under any of the following conditions:
  (a) Submission to the conduct is explicitly or implicitly made a term or a condition of an individual's employment, academic status, or progress.
  (b) Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct by the individual is used as the basis of employment or academic decisions affecting the individual.
  (c) The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact upon the individual's work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment.
  (d) Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct by the individual is used as the basis for any decision affecting the individual regarding benefits and services, honors, programs, or activities available at or through the educational institution.

"Sexual orientation" means heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.

(a) "State financial assistance" means any funds or other form of financial aid appropriated or authorized pursuant to state law, or pursuant to federal law administered by any state agency, for the purpose of providing assistance to any educational institution for its own benefit or for the benefit of any pupils admitted to the educational institution.
  (b) State financial assistance shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
  (1) Grants of state property, or any interest therein.
  (2) Provision of the services of state personnel.
  (3) Funds provided by contract, tax rebate, appropriation, allocation, or formula.

"State student financial aid" means any funds or other form of financial aid appropriated or authorized pursuant to state law, or pursuant to federal law administered by any state agency, for the purpose of providing assistance directly to any student admitted to an educational institution. State student financial aid shall include, but not be limited to, scholarships, loans, grants, or wages.