Cal. Codes » Education Code / TITLE 2. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION / DIVISION 4. INSTRUCTION AND SERVICES / PART 28. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS / CHAPTER 11. Miscellaneous / ARTICLE 2. Patriotic Exercises and Instruction
California Codes

Cal. Education Code § 52720 (2026)

Patriotic Exercises and Instruction

✓ leginfo export of Sept. 26, 2026 (applied Oct. 1, 2026)
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In every public elementary school each day during the school year at the beginning of the first regularly scheduled class or activity period at which the majority of the pupils of the school normally begin the schoolday, there shall be conducted appropriate patriotic exercises. The giving of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America shall satisfy the requirements of this section.

In every public secondary school there shall be conducted daily appropriate patriotic exercises. The giving of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America shall satisfy such requirement. Such patriotic exercises for secondary schools shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations which shall be adopted by the governing board of the district maintaining the secondary school.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 2002–2005 · leading case: Elk Grove Unified Sch. Dist. v. Newdow, 542 U.S. 1 (2004).
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Elk Grove Unified Sch. Dist. v. Newdow, 542 U.S. 1 (2004). · cites it 6× “" Cal. Educ. Code Ann. § 52720 (West 1989).”
Newdow v. U.S. Cong., 328 F.3d 466 (9th Cir. 2002). · cites it 4× “” Cal. Educ.Code § 52720 (emphasis added). The Pledge is recited not just in schools but also at various official events and public ceremonies, including perhaps the most patriotic of occasions— naturalization ceremonies.”
Newdow v. Rio Linda Union Sch. Dist., 597 F.3d 1007 (9th Cir. 2010). · cites it 32× “Pursuant to California Education Code § 52720, the Rio Linda Union School District in California ("the School District") has a practice that every morning, willing students, led by their teachers, face the American Flag, place their right hands over their hearts, and recite the…”
Newdow v. Cong. of the United States, 383 F. Supp. 2d 1229 (E.D. Cal. 2005). “” Cal. Educ.Code § 52720. Plaintiffs allege that the EGUSD has adopted Rule AR 6115, which provides in pertinent part: Each school shall conduct patriotic exercises daily.”
Newdow v. US Cong., 292 F.3d 597 (9th Cir. 2002). · cites it 2× “Cal. Educ. Code § 52720 (1989) (hereinafter “California statute”).”
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