Guns, knives, and weapons are generally prohibited on school grounds, as provided by school policies and state and federal laws.

Although children in grades 1-12 are generally not eligible for a concealed carry weapon permit, older students on college campuses may be eligible for a concealed carry permit (CCP) in some states—also known as a concealed handgun license (CHL), license to carry (LTC), concealed carry license (CCL), or concealed carry weapon (CCW).

A student’s right to carry a concealed weapon on school grounds may be governed by state and federal laws, as well as school policies.

In California, the possession of guns, knives, and other weapons on school grounds is strictly regulated by both state and federal laws, as well as by individual school policies. Under the California Penal Code section 626.9, also known as the Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1995, it is generally illegal to possess a firearm in a school zone, which is defined as an area in, or on the grounds of, a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or within a distance of 1,000 feet from the grounds of the school. Exceptions to this law include individuals with specific authorization, such as law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid concealed carry permit who have obtained written permission from the school district's superintendent. However, even with a concealed carry permit, carrying a concealed weapon on the grounds of a college or university is often prohibited unless specific permission is granted by the institution. It's important to note that policies can vary between different educational institutions, and some may have stricter regulations than state or federal law requires. Therefore, older students on college campuses who are eligible for a concealed carry permit must still adhere to the specific policies of their college or university regarding the carrying of concealed weapons on school property.