Education Bills

Strengthens hiring standards for California community college personnel by requiring specific qualifications. Mandates minimum or alternative qualifications for all faculty, administrators, and support staff positions. Applies to roles including instructors, counselors, librarians, and program administrators.

Undeveloped "intent bill" that aims to make future changes to secondary education in California.

Requires California public universities to cover learning disability assessment costs for students receiving financial aid. Mandates state funding to reimburse universities for diagnostic assessment expenses starting July 1, 2027. Expands disability assessment coverage to include both in-house and external provider evaluations. Requires universities to publicly post information about covered disability assessment services on their websites.

Requires schools to provide alternative assignments when students opt out of animal dissection activities. Prohibits schools from penalizing students' grades for choosing not to participate in animal dissections. Mandates schools to provide written notice to students and parents about dissection opt-out rights. Encourages schools to adopt alternative teaching methods to animal dissection by July 2028.

Authorizes the Board of Governors to approve territory transfers between qualifying community college districts. Streamlines district reorganization by eliminating the requirement for public elections on territory transfers. Requires transfer agreements to protect academic employee classifications and allocate resources fairly. Applies only to districts in counties divided among three or more community college districts.

Establishes a $75 million competitive grant program to support Black and underserved students at California colleges. Allocates $50 million to community colleges and $25 million to CSU campuses through 2032. Requires institutions to spend 100% of grant funds on academic resources for underserved students. Mandates annual reporting on grant expenditures to ensure accountability and transparency.

Expands sexual health education in grades 7-12 to include comprehensive adoption information and resources. Requires schools to teach students about different types of adoption and birth parent rights. Mandates inclusion of local adoption resources and support services in the curriculum.

Requires external financial audits of all California State University campuses every three years. Mandates public access to all California State University audit reports. Strengthens oversight beyond existing internal audit requirements that occur every five years.

Expands school health services to include county offices of education and charter schools. Encourages schools to participate in Medi-Cal reimbursement programs for health and mental health services. Requires the Department of Education to help schools establish Health Days for student screenings.

Requires California community colleges to provide paid work-based learning opportunities by June 2026. Authorizes community colleges to fund apprenticeships and internships to increase student employment. Mandates collaboration between colleges, employers, and workforce boards to align programs with job needs.

Requires California schools to host an annual apprenticeship fair showcasing local training opportunities. Mandates schools to notify all county apprenticeship programs about upcoming career and college fairs. Awards one hour of community service credit to students who attend career, college, or apprenticeship fairs.

Extends all state financial aid application deadlines from March 3 to April 3, 2025 for the 2025-26 academic year. Takes effect immediately to accommodate delays in the federal student aid application process. Applies to all major state aid programs including Cal Grants and Middle Class Scholarships.

Requires schools and colleges to immediately notify their communities when immigration officers are present. Mandates schools maintain contact lists of free legal immigration services for students. Protects undocumented students' ability to retain financial aid and re-enroll if detained. Restricts immigration officers' access to nonpublic campus areas without a judicial warrant.

Requires schools to let parents copy sexual health education materials for 10 cents per page. Mandates schools to disclose training credentials of guest speakers teaching sexual health education. Maintains parents' right to opt children out of sexual health education without requiring advance permission.

Establishes a new University of California law school in Riverside County to serve the Inland Empire region. Allocates annual state funding starting in 2026 for construction and establishment of the law school. Addresses educational gaps in a region of 4.2 million people currently served by only one accredited law school.

Establishes framework for teacher apprenticeship programs to address statewide educator shortages. Creates paid pathways for teacher candidates to gain classroom experience while earning credentials. Aims to increase teacher diversity by reducing financial barriers for underrepresented candidates. Aligns apprenticeship programs with existing state credentialing requirements.

Establishes a process to update California school library standards every eight years starting July 2028. Requires formation of an expert panel with half being credentialed teacher librarians. Mandates inclusion of technology and media literacy experts in library standards review. Requires state funding approval before implementation can begin.

Requires all California territories to either be within a community college district or have equivalent access to in-person and online postsecondary education programs. Mandates the Little Hoover Commission to study and recommend solutions for expanding college access in five underserved rural counties by December 31, 2026. Establishes a working group of education leaders, county representatives, and stakeholders to inform the development of recommendations. Requires analysis of funding sources, partnerships, and infrastructure needed to provide both online and in-person education options in these rural communities.

Streamlines financial aid dependency status adjustments by allowing sworn statements from educational agencies and welfare departments when traditional documentation is unavailable. Authorizes higher education personnel to access juvenile case files to facilitate enrollment and funding for minors attending college under strict confidentiality requirements. Establishes misdemeanor penalties up to $500 for intentional violations of confidentiality provisions regarding accessed juvenile records. Requires the University of California system to adopt implementation policies while mandating compliance from California State University and community college systems.

Requires schools to provide FDA-approved epinephrine delivery systems and trained personnel to assist students experiencing severe allergic reactions. Mandates regular training for volunteer school staff on recognizing anaphylaxis symptoms and properly administering emergency epinephrine. Allows students to carry and self-administer epinephrine with proper medical authorization and parental consent. Provides legal protection for trained volunteers who administer epinephrine in emergency situations.

Intent bill that proposes to establish a statewide policy limiting student use of internet-connected devices during instructional time at California schools. Expands current smartphone restrictions to include all internet-connected devices like tablets and laptops in educational settings. Builds upon existing law that requires schools to create device policies by July 2026.

Expands Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship eligibility to dependents of active-duty military members stationed outside California who maintain California as their legal residence. Allows military dependents to qualify for state financial aid without meeting standard California residency requirements at time of high school graduation. Maintains existing funding mechanisms and program structures while broadening access to higher education financial assistance for military families. Requires the Student Aid Commission to track and report on the expanded program's effectiveness through annual statistical analyses.

Establishes the School Choice Flex Account program providing $8,000 per student and $16,000 for special education students annually to attend private schools starting 2027. Phases in eligibility over four years, starting with low-income families in 2027-2028 and expanding to all California families by 2031. Creates the School Choice Flex Account Trust Board to oversee fund disbursement and requires private schools to be accredited to receive payments. Mandates unused funds be returned to the state annually and prohibits schools from sharing or rebating any funds to parents.

Expands tuition and fee waivers at UC and CSU campuses to cover extended education courses that fulfill undergraduate degree requirements for eligible military dependents, veterans' children, and foster youth. Enhances the California Military Department GI Bill to include coverage for extended education courses that count toward undergraduate degrees. Requires students to meet specific eligibility criteria including income limits, age restrictions, and completion of FAFSA to qualify for waivers. Mandates recipients of Military Department GI Bill awards to serve two years in California military service after completing their education program.

Establishes the Coordinating Commission for Education in California to align higher education programs with workforce needs and career goals. Creates a new state coordinating body composed of representatives from workforce sectors, educational institutions, and employers to develop joint regional education plans. Authorizes the Commission to make recommendations on state and federal funding allocations to support statewide educational and career training objectives.