Editors’ note: This story was originally published by EdSource. Sign up for their daily newsletter here. Read Part 1 here
Legislators returned to the State House this week for the four-week dash to decide which bills that haven’t already been passed, killed or held back should be sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature. They’ll have until Aug. 29 to get an up or down vote in either the Senate or House Appropriations Committees and then until Friday, Sept. 12, to send legislation to Newsom’s desk.
Most bills that get this far stand a good chance of passage. But you may waste your dollars wagering on several contentious education bills still being negotiated. One would define antisemitism and set restrictions on its content in schools; two others, which may merge into one, would add oversight and tighten rules on preventing fraud in hybrid and online charter schools.
Senate Bill 640
Author: Senator Christopher Cabaldon, D-Napa
What does it do: The bill aims to make it easier for qualified California high school students to get admitted to California State University (CSU). Eligible high school students — those who have taken required courses and maintained an appropriate grade point average — will receive mailers directly admitting them to participating CSU campuses.
Why it is important: Cabaldon’s reasoning is that there are lots of students who are academically qualified to attend CSU, but who don’t enroll because they have trouble navigating the admissions process. The measure follows a fall 2024 direct admission pilot program in Riverside County. Other provisions of the bill would build on an existing dual admission transfer pathways program at CSU.
What’s next: An appropriations hearing is scheduled for Aug. 20.
Upshot: The bill has no opponents on file and the backing of the Los Angeles Unified School District and other supporters.
— Amy DiPierro
Senate Bill 790
Author: Senator Christopher Cabaldon, D-Napa
What does it do: The bill clears the way for the governor to sign onto an existing interstate agreement that sets standards for online college courses and degrees, but only under certain conditions. For example, the state would have to confirm that joining the agreement won’t block California from enforcing its own consumer protection laws.
Why is it important: California is the only state that hasn’t joined the pact, which is called the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, or SARA. The bill’s author says joining SARA would make it easier for California colleges to enroll out-of-state students in online courses.
What’s next: The bill heads to an appropriations hearing on Aug. 20.
Upshot: The bill has attracted a mixture of concerned opposition and hearty endorsement. Opponents, including the California Federation of Teachers, say California is right to remain a holdout to SARA because the agreement doesn’t do enough to protect students from fraud and abuse. Meanwhile, supporters, such as the University of California, say the bill would level the playing field for California institutions seeking to offer online courses to out-of-state students.
— Amy DiPierro
Assembly Bill 1264
Author: Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino
What does it do: The bill would require the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to adopt regulations for ultra-processed foods (UPFs). It would require schools to begin phasing out harmful UPFs by Jan. 1, 2028. Beginning July 1, 2035, the bill would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school from offering a “nutritionally adequate breakfast or lunch that includes harmful ultraprocessed foods or selling food or beverages with UPFs, except as part of a school fundraiser.
Why is it important: Nutrition experts point to the harmful effects of ultraprocessed food, particularly among children. These effects include a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, which disproportionately impact students from low-income communities.
The ability to read at grade level is a critical marker for success in school. Yet only four in 10 California third graders do so. Assembly Bill 1454 will provide funds to teach school trainers in the science of reading.
What’s next: The bill has passed the Assembly and Senate policy committees, and in a fiscal hearing, all seven members voted to place the bill on the Senate Appropriations suspense file due to fiscal impact.
Upshot: The bill is likely to pass if it clears Appropriations, given its strong bipartisan support.
— Vani Sanganeria
Assembly Bill 1348
Author: Assemblywoman Jasmeet Bains, D-Bakersfield
What will it do: School districts, county offices of education and charter schools can currently request average daily attendance (ADA) credit to make up for decreases in attendance reaching 10 percent of the student population that occur due to a specified list of reasons. This bill would add immigration enforcement actions to that list — which includes fires, floods, epidemics, earthquakes, and more — until June 30, 2029. When such a request for ADA credit is made, students must also be offered independent study.
Why is it important: Following this year’s sharp rise in immigration enforcement actions, plus the Trump administration’s ending a decades-long policy to avoid immigration enforcement in or near schools, there are heightened concerns that children are missing school to avoid encounters with immigration agents.
What’s next? The bill was most recently read by the Senate Appropriations Committee and referred to the suspense file.
— Betty Márquez Rosales
Assembly Bill 1400
Author: Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria, D-Merced
What does it do: The bill is the latest legislative attempt to allow California community colleges to offer bachelor’s degree programs in nursing. The bill would create a pilot program allowing 15 community colleges across the state to offer those programs.
Why is it important: California faces a nursing shortage. Supporters of the bill, which would give priority to colleges in areas underserved by nurses, say it would help address that shortage.
What’s next: The bill awaits a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Upshot: If recent history is any indication, the bill will not become law. A similar bill, Senate Bill 895, was approved last year by lawmakers and would have allowed 10 colleges to offer nursing bachelor’s degrees, but Newsom vetoed it. That legislation was fiercely opposed by the state’s four-year universities, which are again opposing the newer bill.
— Michael Burke
Assembly Bill 1454
Authors: Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Salinas; Assemblymembers Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance and Blanca Rubio, D-Baldwin Park
What does it do: It would provide missing links to California’s comprehensive early literacy reforms, which are effective in other states. The bill would provide teachers with evidence-based resources and training in reading instruction, including phonics in kindergarten and first grade. The State Board of Education would select a new list of instructional materials tied to what’s commonly called the science of reading. Districts must select from the list or justify their choices. The state would update reading instruction in administrators’ credentialing programs.
Why it’s important: The ability to read at grade level is a critical marker for success in school. Yet only four in 10 California third graders do so. The proficiency gap in reading between Black and Hispanic students compared with white and Asian students is among the nation’s widest.
The upshot: A similar bill last year died. This year, Rivas forged a deal, and Newsom followed with $200 million in a tight state budget to teach school trainers in the science of reading. Newsom will celebrate passage with a grand signing next month.
— John Fensterwald