Student Work Permits

In the State of California, Work Permits for child labor are issued in compliance with regulations from the Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

The Labor Commissioner's child labor law booklet contains comprehensive information about child labor laws, school attendance, wage, hour, and age requirements, restrictions, employer requirements and work permits. It also includes references and links to the state Labor Code, the Education Code and other relevant laws and regulations.

Except in limited circumstances defined in law and summarized in the Child Labor Law Booklet, all minors under 18 years of age employed in the state of California must have a permit to work. Prior to permitting a minor to work, employers must possess a valid Permit to Employ and Work. CUSD may assist in obtaining the necessary work permit required for TK through 8th grade minor's seeking employment who live within the CUSD boundaries, as follows:

CUSD's Community Engagement Office issues student work permits in industries other than entertainment.
Permits to work in the entertainment Industry are issued by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement office, with input from the minor's school. Your child's Principal or their designee can support this process.

Student Work Permit
Entertainment Industry Work Permit

Student Work Permit

After an employer agrees to hire a minor, in an industry other than the entertainment industry, the minor, his/her parent/guardian, and the employer and must fill out and sign the Department of Education form entitled "Statement of Intent to Employ Minor and Request for Work Permit", leaving blank the hours allowed and work limitations. The signed form is turned into the CUSD Community Engagement Office. You may email the document to madeleine_sandy@cusdk8.org or submit it at the District Office office located at 1309 S. Mary Avenue, Suite 150, Sunnyvale. School officials will verify the hours allowed and work limitations imposed by the Department of Labor based on the child's age, and may issue the Permit to Employ and Work. Please allow up to seven days to complete this process.

Permits issued during the school year expire five days after the opening of the next succeeding school year and must be renewed.

Entertainment Industry Work Permit

Minors employed in the entertainment industry must have a permit to work, and employers must have a permit to employ, both permits being issued by the Labor Commissioner's Office. The process may be found on the California Department of Industrial Relations website Procedures for Obtaining an Entertainment Work Permit for Minors.

Although school officials may not issue work permits for employment in the entertainment industry, written verification from the minor’s school demonstrating a satisfactory academic and attendance record must accompany the application for an individual permit. Once parents have obtained and completed their portions of the “Application for Permission to Work in the Entertainment Industry” from any Division of Labor Standards Enforcement office or online, they should submit the document to the Principal of the child's school or the Principal's designee to complete the “School Record” portion of the application, and affix the school’s seal or stamp. Within seven days of receipt, the Principal's office will return the processed form to the parent to complete through the Labor Commissioner's office.

Please contact the CUSD Community Engagement Office at (408) 252-3000 x61155 with any questions regarding Student Work Permits.

Fixed Header

In This Section

Landing Nav

Student Work Permits

Student Work Permit

Entertainment Industry Work Permit