California school security camera law
California encourages, but does not require, public schools, including charter schools, with 100 or more students to adopt a school safety program that gives first responders remote access to school cameras in an emergency, and it bans classroom recording devices without the teacher's and principal's consent.
Every fact checked against the official source by an independent reviewer · Last verified October 26, 2026
Do California schools have to have security cameras?
On or before July 1, 2030, each public school, including charter schools, with 100 or more students "is encouraged to" put in place a web-based or app-based school safety program. This is encouraged, not required. The program's digital map includes the location and field of view of the school's surveillance cameras. The section, Education Code § 32280.5, was added by AB 960 (Stats. 2024, Ch. 528) and took effect January 1, 2025.
Do police get access to school camera feeds?
The encouraged program includes remote access for first responders to connect to the school's surveillance system, with each camera given an alphanumeric label and its view direction shown. First responders may connect only when a designated school administrator or staff member asks law enforcement for help with a situation involving imminent danger of serious physical injury or death on school property.
Can schools record in classrooms?
Using any electronic listening or recording device in an elementary or secondary classroom without the prior consent of the teacher and the principal is prohibited. This applies to any person, including a student. Anyone other than a student who willfully breaks this rule is guilty of a misdemeanor (a lesser criminal offense).
Does California limit facial recognition?
The encouraged school safety program may not use biometric information.
Is camera information a public record?
The program map details, which include camera locations and fields of view, must be kept confidential and are exempt from the California Public Records Act. Developers of a school safety program a school puts in place under § 32280.5 must follow FERPA, the federal student-records privacy law.
Have lawmakers proposed school mapping grants?
AB 598 (2025-2026) would have set up, once money was appropriated, a School Mapping Data Grant Program run by the Office of Emergency Services to give one-time grants. Its last action was on August 29, 2025, when it was held under submission in committee; it was not enacted.
How can QuickSecure help?
QuickSecure connects your cameras through a QuickSecure box on site.
Administrators watch live video in the dashboard, with each camera placed on your Nexus floor plan. Only administrators can view it.
System health watches every camera. It opens a ticket when one is offline for 5 minutes and closes it when the camera is back.
Threat detection (beta) flags what a camera sees and sends administrators a snapshot to confirm or dismiss.
This is not a statement that any product satisfies California's requirements; that reading belongs to your district and its counsel.