Opinion No. (2010)

EDMUND G. BROWN JR. Attorney General DIANE E. EISENBERG Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE SANDRÉ R. SWANSON, MEMBER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY, has requested an opinion on the following question: In light of the repeal of Education Code section 52900 , effective January 1, 2006, may a school district contract with a private nonprofit organization to provide at-risk student dropout prevention and retention programs? CONCLUSION A school district may contract with a private nonprofit organization to provide at-risk student dropout prevention and retention programs. *Page 2 ANALYSIS We are asked to consider the effect of the repeal of Education Code section 52900 on a school district's authority to contract with a private nonprofit organization to provide dropout prevention and recovery programs. Former Education Code section 52900 was part of an article titled "Alternative Education and Work Centers for School Dropouts," 1 and expressly authorized school districts to contract with private nonprofit community-based organizations to provide alternative education and work programs for students who are at risk of dropping out of schools. 2 We conclude that, despite the repeal of…