New rules for who is allowed to pick your child up from school

What happened

On November 20, 2025 the board voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution 2025/2026-22, which sets district-wide rules for releasing a student to anyone who is not the parent or guardian. Each school must name two trained officials who review Caregiver's Authorization Affidavits, the caregiver must show a government photo ID, and school staff must try to reach the parent by phone, text and email and write down every attempt before the child leaves. If the affidavit looks doubtful, or the child does not recognise the adult, the school must keep the child and call the site administrator, police or child protective services. The board adopted the rules in response to AB 495, a new state law that from January 1, 2026 lets more non-parent adults act for a child using a signed affidavit.

Why it matters to families

This changes the everyday routine of school pickup for every family in the district. An aunt, grandparent or family friend collecting a child now needs to be on the approved emergency contact list with photo ID, or hold a notarised affidavit that a designated school official has checked. Parents will also be contacted before a child is released or given school medical or mental-health care. Families who rely on informal pickup arrangements will need to update their emergency contact lists.

The evidence

The approved November 20, 2025 minutes, printed in the December 18, 2025 board agenda packet, record that the motion to adopt Resolution 2025/2026-22 was moved by Na, seconded by Cruz and carried unanimously 5-0. The same packet contains the full text of the resolution, which lists the custodial rights presumptions, the affidavit verification steps, the recordkeeping requirement and the safety escalation protocol summarised here.

The source