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School Lands

"School lands" are what remain of the nearly 5.5 million acres throughout the State originally granted to California by the Congress in March of 1853 to benefit public education. The State retains surface and mineral ownership of approximately 469,000+/- acres of these "school lands" and retains only the mineral rights on an additional 790,000 acres.

Today these lands are held in trust for the betterment of the common schools of the State and the revenue, by statute, supports the State Teachers' Retirement System. Over half of the "school lands" are located in the California Desert.