Common Local Assignment Options (LAOs) for Educator Assignments in California’s Public Schools

Education Code (EC) and Title 5 Regulations (T5) provide local educational agencies (LEAs) with educator assignment options that can be used when an LEA is unable to assign a certificated employee with the appropriate credential. These options, known as Local Assignment Options (LAOs), allow flexibility at the local level and are used solely at the discretion of the LEA. The LEA is responsible for verification of all LAO requirements and should always review the language of the EC or T5.

The information provided is designed to serve as guidance only.  Local educational agencies are responsible to thoroughly review relevant Statutes and Regulations and determine the appropriateness of an assignment at the local level.

Note- Local Assignment Options:

  • Most require a full teaching credential (Intern, Waiver, Provisional Internship, and Short-Term Staff Permit holders cannot serve on Local Assignment Options);
  • Require the teacher serving on the LAO to give their consent for the assignment; and
  • LAOs pertaining to teachers are for general education assignments only, and cannot be used for special programs such as Special Education, Career Technical Education, or English Learner assignments.

For LAOs that require governing board authorizations, the placement should be approved by the governing board prior to the start of the assignment.  This is because educators placed in classrooms without board approval have not begun the serving based on the LAO, and are in fact misassigned. These educators will remain misassigned until the board approval is in place. Misassignments should be corrected within 30 Calendar days.

As well, governing board approval is required annually.  This is intended to guarantee transparency in assignments, as board agendas are public and accessible to parents and stakeholder groups.  In this regard, faithfully following the criteria of these LAOs may protect LEAs from legal action.

Common Local Assignment Options

EC §35029: Chief Administrative Officer

Local Employing Agency Must Verify

Base Teaching Credential: N/A
Content Verification: May be required to pursue a program of in-service training
Board Action: Resolution

Assignment Can Be In
Setting: Administrative Services
Grade: N/A
Content: Chief Administrative Officer

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: EC §35029

EC §44256(b): Departmentalized

Local Employing Agency Must Verify
Base Teaching Credential: Elementary Credential
Content Verification: 12 lower or 6 upper semester units in Content taught
Board Action: Resolution

Assignment Can Be In
Setting:  Departmentalized
Grade: 8th and below
Content:  Any

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: EC §44256(b)

EC §44258.2: Departmentalized

Local Employing Agency Must Verify
Base Teaching Credential: Secondary Credential
Content Verification: 12 lower or 6 upper semester units in Content taught
Board Action: Resolution

Assignment Can Be In
Setting:  Departmentalized
Grade: 5th-8th
Content:  Any

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: EC §44258.2

EC §44258.3 (Craven): Departmentalized

Local Employing Agency Must Verify
Base Teaching Credential: Any Teaching Credential, excluding Emergency Permits
Content Verification: Subject Knowledge as defined by board
Board Action: Specific Board Policy

Assignment Can Be In
Setting:  Departmentalized
Grade: K-12th 
Content:  Any

Additional Guidance:  See Advisory on Teacher Assignment Option EC §44258.3 for an example of appropriate board policies and procedures.

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: EC §44258.3

EC §44258.7(b): Competitive Sport for PE Credit

Local Employing Agency Must Verify
Base Teaching Credential: Single Subject or Secondary Teacher in a subject or subjects other than Physical Education
Content Verification: Full-time employment within the school district and a minimum of 20 hours of first aid instruction appropriate for the specific sport
Board Action: Resolution

Assignment Can Be In
Setting: Departmentalized
Grade: K-12
Content: Competitive sport for Physical Education credit

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: EC §44258.7(b)

EC §§44258.7(c)(d) (Committee on Assignments): Departmentalized

Local Employing Agency Must Verify
Base Teaching Credential:  Any Teaching Credential
Content Verification:  Special skills and preparation in Elective taught
Board Action:  Specific Board Policy as outlined in EC §§44258.7(c) and (d)

Assignment Can Be In
Setting:  Departmentalized
Grade: K-12th 
Content:  Elective

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: EC §§44258.7(c)(d)

EC §44263: Self-Contained

Local Employing Agency Must Verify
Base Teaching Credential:  Any Teaching Credential
Content Verification:  60 semester units distributed among 10 Subject Areas
Board Action: Resolution

Assignment Can Be In
Setting:  Self-Contained
Grade: K-12th
Content:  Any

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: EC §44263

EC §44263: Departmentalized

Local Employing Agency Must Verify
Base Teaching Credential:  Any Teaching Credential
Content Verification:  18 lower or 9 upper semester units in Content taught
Board Action: Resolution

Assignment Can Be In
Setting: Departmentalized
Grade: K-12th
Content: Any

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: EC §44263

EC §44332: Temporary County Certificate (TCC)

Local Employing Agency Must Verify

Base Teaching Credential: N/A
Content Verification: Basic Skills Requirement; Application & fee have been submitted to the Commission, and all credentialing requirements have been satisfied. Immediately upon notification that the educator does not qualify for the document requested, the LEA shall remove the educator from the assignment and the TCC shall be cancelled.
Board Action: Resolution

Assignment Can Be In
Setting: Any
Grade: Any
Content: Any

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: EC §44332

EC §44831: Speech and Language Services

Local Employing Agency Must Verify

Base Teaching Credential: N/A
Content Verification: License issued by the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board and has earned a Masters degree in Communication Disorders
Board Action: Resolution

Assignment Can Be In
Setting: Services
Grade: K-12
Content: Speech and Language Services

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: EC §44831

EC §44865: Alternative Settings

Local Employing Agency Must Verify
Base Teaching Credential:  Credential based on BA and Student Teaching
Content Verification: None
Board Action:  None

Assignment Can Be In
Setting:  Independent Study; Home/Hospital; Adult Ed; Necessary Small/Continuation/Alternative/Opportunity/Juvenile Court/County or District Community Schools
Grade:  K-12th
Content:  Any

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: EC §44865 

EC §58803: Specialized Secondary Programs

Local Employing Agency Must Verify

Document Required: Certificate of Clearance
Content Verification: Unique talents or skills from business, performing arts, or postsecondary institutions
Board Action: Resolution, and report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction the number of those persons employed, the subjects they are employed to teach, and the unique talents and skills they possess.

Assignment Can Be In
Setting: Specialized Secondary Programs
Grade: 9-12
Content: Limited to specialized secondary programs defined in EC §58801, including: High technology and performing arts

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: EC §58803

T5 §80005(b): Departmentalized

Local Employing Agency Must Verify
Base Teaching Credential:  Credential based on BA and Student Teaching
Content Verification: Knowledge and Skills in Content taught
Board Action: None

Assignment Can Be In
Setting: Departmentalized
Grade: K-12th
Content:  Elective

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: T5 §80005(b)

T5 §80020.4: Staff Development

Local Employing Agency Must Verify
Base Teaching Credential: Credential based on BA and Student Teaching; Credential in Subject of Staff Development*
Content Verification:  Verification of Subject Expertise*
Board Action:  Resolution*

Assignment Can Be In
Setting:  Staff Development at the school site, school district, or county level
Grade: N/A
Content: Any

* Must have either a credential in the subject area of the staff development activities or have expertise in the subject area verified and approved by the school board.

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: T5 §80020.4

T5 §80020.4.1(a): Program Coordination

Local Employing Agency Must Verify
Base Teaching Credential: Credential based on BA and Student Teaching
Content Verification: None
Board Action: None

Assignment Can Be In
Setting: Program Coordination at the school site
Grade: N/A
Content: Any

Legal Citation for Local Assignment Option: T5 §80020.4.1(a)
Additional Education Code and Title 5 options in specific subjects and settings can be found within the webpage associated with the setting or services, linked on the Assignment Resources webpage.
Updated March 28, 2023