Board Policies

Board policies (BP)

Board policies are adopted by the Board of Education and provide general guidance for the governance and operation of the school district. They establish principles that guide decision making and outline expectations across areas such as instruction, student services, personnel, business operations, facilities, and community relations. Board policies are intentionally broad and focus on the what and why, rather than day to day procedures.

Administrative regulations (AR)

Administrative regulations are developed and approved by district administration to support and implement Board policies. They provide specific procedures for carrying out a policy, including who is responsible, what steps are taken, and when actions occur. Administrative regulations translate Board policy into operational practice and may be updated as legal requirements or district practices change, as long as they remain consistent with Board policy.

Exhibits (E)

Exhibits provide additional information that supports understanding or implementation of a Board policy or administrative regulation. Exhibits may include forms, templates, examples, or reference materials. They do not establish policy on their own and are connected to an adopted policy or regulation.

How policies are organized

OPUSD Board policies and administrative regulations are organized by topic areas, such as district goals, community relations, administration, business operations, personnel, students, instruction, and facilities. This structure helps staff, families, and community members locate related policies and understand how different areas of district operations are addressed.

Policy access and maintenance

OPUSD Board of Education policies and administrative regulations are housed and maintained on the online GAMUT Policy platform. The platform includes a search function that allows users to quickly locate specific Board policies or administrative regulations.

Maintaining current and effective policies is an ongoing process. Each year, new state and federal laws may affect district policies. To support timely updates and legal alignment, OPUSD partners with the California School Boards Association through GAMUT, CSBA’s policy audit and maintenance program.

Why Board policies matter

Board policies provide a clear framework for district operations and decision making. They promote consistency across schools, clarify roles and responsibilities, and support alignment with legal requirements. Public access to Board policies supports transparency, understanding, and accountability across the district.

Understanding policy series

OPUSD Board policies and administrative regulations are organized into numbered series by topic area. Each series groups related policies together, making it easier to locate information based on the subject.

0000 Philosophy, goals, and comprehensive plans
Includes district vision, goals, long-range planning, safety plans, technology plans, and advisory committees.

1000 Community relations
Includes policies related to parent and community involvement, volunteers, visitors, complaints, public participation, and partnerships.

2000 Administration
Covers district governance and administration, including the Superintendent, evaluations, and internal administrative responsibilities.

3000 Business and noninstructional operations
Includes budgeting, financial management, purchasing, transportation, food services, and emergency procedures.

4000 Personnel
Addresses employment, assignments, evaluations, leaves, and working conditions for certificated and classified staff.

5000 Students
Covers student rights and responsibilities, attendance, discipline, health and safety, student records, and student support services.

6000 Instruction
Includes curriculum, instructional programs, assessment, special education, and instructional materials.

7000 Facilities
Addresses school facilities, maintenance, construction, safety, and use of district property.

9000 Board bylaws
Includes Board governance rules, roles and responsibilities of Board members, and procedures for Board meetings.

Using the series numbers can help users narrow their search when looking for policies related to a specific topic. For example, student-related policies are generally found in the 5000 series, while instructional programs are addressed in the 6000 series.