Human Resources Academy II for Community College Districts

C. S ABBATICAL L EAVE Education Code sections 87767 and 87768 authorize, but do not require, districts ’ governing boards to allow faculty leaves for study and travel. These sections also establish certain minimum requirements for such leaves, reviewed below. Additionally, districts should refer to their collective bargaining agreements, which may also address the terms and procedures for granting sabbatical leaves. 1. P URPOSE OF L EAVE Sabbatical leaves may be granted for the purpose of permitting study or travel, “which will benefit the schools and students of the district.” District policies and procedures should include review processes to ensure that proposed sabbatical leaves are designed to serve the district. A sabbatical leave is not appropriate for vacationing or other purposes unrelated to service to the district. 2. P ERMISSIBLE L ENGTH OF L EAVE Education Code section 87767 authorizes a community college governing board to grant sabbatical leaves, not to exceed one year . The governing board may, at its discretion, provide that such a leave be taken in separate six-month periods or separate quarters rather than for a continuous one-year period; however, the leave must be commenced and completed within three years. Further, where a one-year sabbatical leave is taken in sub-parts, any service provided between the periods of leave will count toward the service required for a subsequent leave. 3. E MPLOYEE E LIGIBILITY FOR L EAVE To qualify for a sabbatical leave, a faculty member must have rendered service to the district for at least six consecutive years preceding the granting of the leave, but only one such sabbatical leave can be granted in each six-year period. Approved leaves of absence during this six year period (excluding sabbatical leave) do not constitute a break in service for purposes of qualifying for sabbatical leaves. However, such periods may not be counted toward reaching the six-year threshold. 28 In addition to the service requirement for eligibility, the governing board may prescribe the standards of service which entitle its employees to sabbatical leave. 4. C OMPENSATION D URING S ABBATICAL L EAVE Education Code section 87769 provides that the compensation to employees on sabbatical leave may not be less than the difference between the salary of the employee on leave and the salary of a substitute employee in the position held by the employee prior to the granting of the leave. Alternatively, the board may pay one-half of the sabbatical employee’s salary or any additional amount up to and including the employee’s full salary. The employee granted a sabbatical may also agree, in writing, not to receive any compensation during the period of the leave.

Human Resources Academy II for Community College Districts ©2019 (c) Liebert Cassidy Whitmore 28