District board policy regarding flag protocol is contained in Administrative Regulation 6115, Ceremonies & Observances. Following is an excerpt from the district's policy:
Patriotic Exercises
Each school shall conduct patriotic exercises daily. At elementary schools, such exercises shall be conducted at the beginning of each school day. The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag will fulfill this requirement. (Education Code 52720)
Individuals may choose not to participate in the flag salute for personal reasons.
Display of Flag
The flag of the United States and the flag of California shall be displayed during school days at the entrance or on the grounds of every school. At all times, the national flag shall be placed in the position of first honor. (Government Code 431, 436; 36 U.S.C. 174) Note: District schools display all-weather flags which permit them to be displayed during inclement weather.
When the United States flag is displayed with the flags of the states of the union or municipalities, the federal flag, which represents all states, should be flown above and at the center of the other flags. 4 U.S.C. § 7(e). [13] No other flag should be placed above it. The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.
FLAG AT HALF-STAFF
Flying a flag half-staff is a signal of mourning. By tradition, the national flag flies at half-staff only when the entire country mourns. If local flags are flown at half-staff, the national flag may be flown at full staff with them. Citizens may salute and pledge allegiance to the flag when it flies at half-staff. The flag should be hoisted to the top of the staff for an instant before being lowered to half-staff. It should be hoisted to the peak again before being lowered for the night.
The national flag shall fly at half staff: (36 U.S.C. 175)
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For 30 days from the death of the President or a former President.
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For ten days from the death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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From the day of death until burial of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a former Vice President, a member of the Cabinet, a Secretary of the Army, Navy or Air Force, and the Governor of the state.
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On the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress.
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By order of the President upon the death of principal figures of the United States government as a mark of respect to their memory.
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In addition, the flag flies at half-staff in the District of Columbia from the day of death until burial of a United States Senator or Representative, a territorial delegate or the resident commissioner from Puerto Rico. Flags in a state or territory fly half-mast from the day the governor dies until burial."
Download The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display
The Congressional Research Service prepared this report which presents, verbatim, the United States “Flag Code” as found in Title 4 of the United States Code and the section of Title 36 which designates the Star-Spangled Banner as the national anthem and provides instructions on how to display the flag during its rendition.
The “Flag Code” includes instructions and rules on such topics as the pledge of allegiance, display and use of the flag by civilians, time and occasions for display, position and manner of display, and how to show respect for the flag. The “Code” also grants the President the authority to modify the rules governing the flag.
The report also addresses several of the frequently asked questions concerning the flag, including the pledge of allegiance and the court decisions concerning it, customs concerning the flag, display of the flag 24 hours a day, flying the flag in bad weather, flying the flag at half-staff, ornaments on the flag, destruction of worn flags, display of the U.S. flag with flags of other nations or of States, commercial use of the flag, size and proportion of the flag, and restrictions upon display of the flag.
