Tobacco-Free Policy

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.

Tobacco-Free School District Certification

Please visit the "Tobacco-Free School District Certification" page on the TUPE Office website to:

Check the certification status of your COE or LEA
Download a Certification Form or sample Memo of Assurance
Access detailed instructions for completing your certification

VISIT SITE

Who must be certified as Tobacco-Free?

What documentation is required?

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

How do I complete my certification?

Model Policies

California School Board Association (CSBA)
Public Health Law Center

California School Board Association (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

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

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

Public Health Law Center

PHLC - Commercial Tobacco-Free K-12 School 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. To promote an environment free of commercial tobacco in primary and secondary schools, the Public Health Law Center has prepared a comprehensive model policy that school districts and schools may adopt.

Download

PHLC - Commercial Tobacco-Free K-12 School Model Policy Questions and Answers

This model policy Q & A document is a supplement to the model policy language. It includes context boxes throughout the model policy that provide the reasoning behind key provisions.

Download

Peer-Created Resources

Sample Narrative Form for Policy Communication and Cessation Promotion

The Orange County Department of Education created 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

Sample Guidance on Communicating Policies and Promoting Cessation

The Orange County Department of Education created sample guidance for LEAs about communicating tobacco-free policies and enforcement procedures to students, parents, staff and the community.

Download

Webinar: Public Health Law Center

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.

Download Slides

Logo Image

Logo Title

In This Section

Tobacco-Free Policy

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.

Tobacco-Free School District Certification

Who must be certified as Tobacco-Free?

What documentation is required?

How do I complete my certification?

Model Policies

California School Board Association (CSBA)

Model BP 3513.3(a) - Tobacco-Free Schools

Model AR 3513.3(a) - Tobacco-Free Schools

Model BP 5131.62(a) - Tobacco

Public Health Law Center

PHLC - Commercial Tobacco-Free K-12 School Model Policy

PHLC - Commercial Tobacco-Free K-12 School Model Policy Questions and Answers

Peer-Created Resources

Sample Narrative Form for Policy Communication and Cessation Promotion

Sample Guidance on Communicating Policies and Promoting Cessation

Webinar: Public Health Law Center

Equitable Enforcement of K-12 Commercial Tobacco School Policies

Logo Image

Logo Title

Links & Resources

Tobacco-Free Policy

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.

Sa​mple Narrative Form for Policy Communication and Cessation Promotion

Sample Guidance on Communicating Policies and Promoting Cessation​

Sample Narrative Form for Policy Communication and Cessation Promotion

Sample Guidance on Communicating Policies and Promoting Cessation