No leave of absence shall be granted to any employee under Section 44966 who has not rendered service to the district for at least seven consecutive years preceding the granting of the leave, and not more than one such leave of absence shall be granted in each seven-year period. The governing board granting the leave of absence may, subject to the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, prescribe the standards of service which shall entitle the employee to the leave of absence. No absence from the service of the district under a leave of absence, other than a leave of absence granted pursuant to Section 44966, granted by the governing board of the district shall be deemed a break in the continuity of service required by this section, and the period of such absence shall not be included as service in computing the seven consecutive years of service required by this section. Service under a national recognized fellowship or foundation approved by the State Board of Education, for a period of not more than one year, for research, teaching or lecturing shall not be deemed a break in continuity of service, and the period of such absence shall be included in computing the seven consecutive years of service required by this section.
(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)