Regulation vs. Policy

A process or plan implementing District policy is commonly defined as an administrative regulation or procedure. The development implementations of these regulations or procedures are appropriately left to the District’s administrations. Local regulations guide implementation of policy, define standard operating procedure, and generally allow room for professional discretion and judgment, as appropriate. Regulations should be reviewed and revised by administrators as policy changes or circumstances warrant. Regulations are not adopted by the board.

Simply stated, a regulation is “a procedure or plan based on district policies left to administrative discretion in design and implementation. Regulations are the action steps that complement policy.”