(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Local educational agency” means a county office of education, a school district, or a charter school.

(2) “Pupil who is a child of a military family” means a pupil who meets the definition of “children of military families” in Section 49701.

(3) “School of origin” means the school in which the pupil is enrolled at the time that a change in residence occurs.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 48200, the local educational agency serving a pupil who is a child of a military family shall do either of the following:

(1) Allow the pupil to continue his or her education in the school of origin, regardless of any change of residence of the military family during that school year, for the duration of the pupil’s status as a child of a military family.

(2) For a pupil whose status changes due to the end of military service of his or her parent during a school year, comply with either of the following, as applicable:

(A) If the pupil is enrolled in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 8, inclusive, allow the pupil to continue his or her education in the school of origin through the duration of that academic school year.

(B) If the child is enrolled in high school, allow the pupil to continue his or her education in the school of origin through graduation.

(c) To ensure that the pupil who is a child of a military family has the benefit of matriculating with his or her peers in accordance with the established feeder patterns of school districts, the following apply:

(1) If the pupil who is a child of a military family is transitioning between school grade levels, the local educational agency shall allow the pupil who is a child of a military family to continue in the school district of origin in the same attendance area.

(2) If the pupil who is a child of a military family is transitioning to a middle school or high school, and the school designated for matriculation is in another school district, the local educational agency shall allow the pupil who is a child of a military family to continue to the school designated for matriculation in that school district.

(3) The new school shall immediately enroll the pupil who is a child of a military family even if the child has outstanding fees, fines, textbooks, or other items or moneys due to the school last attended or is unable to produce clothing or records normally required for enrollment, such as previous academic records, medical records, including, but not limited to, records or other proof of immunization history pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 120325) of Part 2 of Division 105 of the Health and Safety Code, proof of residency, other documentation, or school uniforms.

(d) Unless otherwise required by federal law, this section does not require a local educational agency to provide transportation services to allow a pupil subject to paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b) or subdivision (c) to attend a school pursuant to this section.

(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 327, Sec. 1. (AB 2949) Effective January 1, 2019.)