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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Research suggests that school policies prohibiting tobacco use, when consistently enforced, are an essential part of lowering teen tobacco use rates. In accordance with California Assembly Bill ABX2-9, all LEAs that receive TUPE funding must adopt and enforce a tobacco-free campus policy.

California Department of Education (CDE) -
Tobacco-Free School District Certification

All TUPE-funded LEAs are required to maintain their Tobacco-Free School District Certification by providing documentation to their County TUPE Coordinator every three years and being certified by CDE. TUPE-funded COEs submit their documentation directly to CDE.

Applicants for TUPE funding must have been certified by CDE as having met the tobacco-free school district criteria. This certification must be valid at least through July 1 of the year of application.

Documentation required for certification includes the following:

  • Board-approved policies (with accompanying enforcement procedures) that: (1) prohibit the use of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, including vaping devices, (2) address use in buildings, properties, and vehicles leased or owned by the LEA, and (3) address use by staff, students, visitors, and civic-use/joint-use permit holders. Model policies are available for download below.
  • A memo of assurance from the Superintendent or approved designee that the policy will be implemented and enforced
  • Photographs of the required permanent signage posted at entrances to LEA properties stating “Tobacco Use is Prohibited” 
  • Written descriptions of how the policy is communicated to students, families, staff, and the community, and how cessation support programs are promoted
If the documentation is satisfactory, the County TUPE Coordinator secures it for recordkeeping and submits a Certification Form to CDE for approval. COEs submit documentation and a Certification Form for direct approval by CDE.

For more information, please visit the Tobacco-Free School District Certification page at the TUPE Office website:

Model Policies
CSBA - Model BP 3513.3(a) - Tobacco-Free Schools

Provided by the California School Board Association, this Board Policy (BP) defines tobacco products and prohibits their use among staff, students, and visitors. It has been annotated with additional information.

Download
CSBA - Model AR 3513.3(a) - Tobacco-Free Schools

Provided by the California School Board Association, this model Administrative Regulation (AR) details the response to violations of the tobacco-free schools policy, particularly among staff and visitors. It has been annotated with additional information.

Download
CSBA - Model BP 5131.62(a) - Tobacco

Provided by the California School Board Association, this Board Policy (BP) defines tobacco products, prohibits their use among students in relation to student discipline, and details TUPE program components. It has been annotated with additional information.

Download
Comprehensive Commercial Tobacco-Free K-12 Model Policy

The Public Health Law Center supports commercial tobacco control policy change and the commercial tobacco control movement throughout the United States, developing resources on the most effective legal and policy measures that health leaders and policymakers can use to control the epidemic of commercial tobacco use in the United States and abroad. Click the link below to view the Public Health Law Center's Commercial Tobacco-Free K-12 School Model Policy.

Download

Additional Resources
OCDE - Sa​mple Narrative Form for Policy Communication and Cessation Promotion

A template to assist LEAs in writing descriptions of how the policy is communicated to students, families, staff, and the community, and how cessation support programs are promoted.

Download
OCDE - Sample Guidance on Communicating Policies and Promoting Cessation​

Sample guidance for LEAs about communicating tobacco-free policies and enforcement procedures to students, parents, staff and the community.

Download
CA - Equitable Enforcement of K-12 Commercial Tobacco School Policies

This 60-minute webinar addresses the best practices in creating or strengthening K-12 commercial tobacco policies; including an overview of the key features of a comprehensive K-12 school policy, with a special focus on examples of non-punitive disciplinary alternatives to suspension and expulsion for violations that prioritize equity, support, and recovery, and put the health and well-being of the student first.

Watch Video
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2020 CA TUPE: Developed by the Orange County Department of Education in partnership with the California Department of Education.