{"id":121367,"date":"2026-01-05T22:33:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T22:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/121367\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T22:33:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T22:33:09","slug":"10-new-laws-that-will-impact-california-schools-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/121367\/","title":{"rendered":"10 new laws that will impact California schools in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article originally appeared on EdSource<\/a>.<\/p>\n

California students are likely to see fewer cell phones and more gender-neutral bathrooms next year as new state education laws go into effect.<\/p>\n

Protecting students from immigration raids was a priority for state legislators this year, resulting in several new laws, including one prohibiting school staff from allowing immigration officers to enter campuses or providing student or family information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The most controversial of the new laws is one meant to target antisemitism, although amendments made during the legislative session resulted in a bill that defines discrimination more broadly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A new Office of Civil Rights<\/p>\n

Assembly\u00a0Bill 715<\/a>\u00a0establishes a state Office of Civil Rights to help school districts identify and prevent discrimination based on antisemitism, gender, religious and LGBTQ status. It will also handle questions and complaints.<\/p>\n

The legislation, along with\u00a0Senate Bill 48<\/a>, creates four positions to track and report discrimination. These positions will be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate after Jan. 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia is taking action to confront hate in all forms,\u201d said Gov. Gavin Newsom in a statement. \u201cAt a time when antisemitism and bigotry are rising nationwide and globally, these laws make clear: our schools must be places of learning, not hate.\u201d<\/p>\n

The legislation has been controversial, with some organizations saying it infringes on academic freedom and prioritizes the rights of certain students over others. The California Teachers Association and California Faculty Association have said the legislation could result in the censoring of educators.<\/p>\n

Protecting parents from jail for truant kids<\/p>\n

Beginning Jan. 1, parents of chronically truant children will no longer be fined or face jail time.<\/p>\n

Assembly Bill 461<\/a>\u00a0amends the state\u2019s Penal Code to remove a section that makes it a criminal offense for a parent to have a child who is chronically\u00a0truant,<\/a>\u00a0which is defined as missing school without a valid excuse for 10% or more of the school year.<\/p>\n

California law requires students age 6 to 18 to attend school.<\/p>\n

The Penal Code called for a fine of up to $2,000 or up to a year in jail for parents whose children habitually missed school.<\/p>\n

\u201cCriminalizing parents for their children\u2032s truancy ignores the root causes of absenteeism and only deepens family hardships, especially as many immigrant families now fear sending their children to school,\u201d said Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, D-Sunnyvale, in a statement. \u201c(This bill)\u00a0ensures support and resources to keep students in school and on track for success.\u201d<\/p>\n

Requiring gender-neutral bathrooms<\/p>\n

Beginning on July 1, all California school campuses, except those that have only one bathroom for male students and one bathroom for female students, are required to have a gender-neutral bathroom.<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 760<\/a>, which was signed by the governor in 2023, requires that posted signs identify the designated bathroom as being open to all genders and that it be kept unlocked and available to all students.<\/p>\n

\u201cSB 760 is a measure that aims to create a safe and inclusive environment not only for non-binary students, but to all students, by requiring each public school to establish at least one all-gender restroom,\u201d said former Sen. Josh Newman, author of the bill.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Limiting cell phone use<\/p>\n

School districts, county offices of education, and charter schools have until July 1 to adopt a policy limiting the use of cell phones during school hours.<\/p>\n

Assembly Bill 3216<\/a>, renamed the Phone-Free School Act, was approved in an effort to curb classroom distractions, bullying, and addiction to the devices. At least five other states, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, South Carolina and Ohio, have similar laws.<\/p>\n

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a letter to school district leaders urging them to restrict cell phones. Excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression and other mental health issues in children, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shielding schools from immigration raids<\/p>\n

Protecting students from immigration raids was a priority for legislators this year, resulting in several pieces of new legislation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Assembly Bill 49,<\/a>\u00a0known as the California Safe Haven Schools Act, was passed amid a series of immigration raids that have resulted in the arrest of thousands of people. It went into effect as an urgency measure in September.<\/p>\n

The bill prohibits school staff from allowing immigration enforcement officers on school campuses or sharing student or family information with them without a warrant or court order.\u00a0 School districts have until March 1 to update school policies to align with the law.<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 98,<\/a>\u00a0also effective in September, requires leaders of school districts, charter schools, universities and colleges to notify staff and parents when immigration officers are on a campus. School safety plans should include an official procedure for making these notifications by March 1.<\/p>\n

This bill, which is in effect until Jan. 1, 2031, does not prevent governing boards from establishing stronger standards or protections.<\/p>\n

Protecting preschools<\/p>\n

Assembly Bill 495<\/a>, known as the Family Preparedness Plan Act, expands the pool of relatives that can be authorized to make decisions and care for children if parents are detained by immigration authorities or deported.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beginning Jan. 1, all adults related to a child by blood or adoption, within five generations, could be authorized to enroll a child in school or make decisions about their medical care while on campus.<\/p>\n

The bill also permits courts to appoint a person, nominated by a parent, to have joint custody of a child if they are detained or deported by immigration officials.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It also requires school districts to provide information to parents and guardians regarding the right of children to have a free public education.<\/p>\n

The legislation also extends the requirements of AB 49 to child care facilities and preschools, prohibiting staff from collecting information or documents regarding the immigration status of children or their family. Instead, they are required to report requests for this information to the California Department of Education and the state Attorney General\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

Easing the road to college<\/p>\n

This year, California high school students will find it easier to be admitted to a California State University campus.<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 640<\/a>\u00a0establishes a direct admission program that sends mailers to high school students who are eligible to attend participating campuses, informing them of that status. Qualified students must have completed all the required coursework and maintained the necessary grade point average.<\/p>\n

\u201cTens of thousands of California students are fully qualified to go to CSU, but don\u2019t jump the hurdles of the admissions process,\u201d said Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, D-Napa, the law\u2019s author. \u201cAt the same time, nearly half of CSU\u2019s campuses have substantial available enrollment capacity and need more students to sustain their high quality academic programs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The legislation also requires the California Community Colleges system to promote the CSU dual admission transfer program, which guarantees CSU admission to eligible community college students.<\/p>\n

Alerting students to a suicide hotline<\/p>\n

Student identification cards issued at California public secondary schools and institutions of higher education after July 1 will include the phone number for\u00a0The Trevor Project<\/a>,\u00a0a crisis and suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ youth.<\/p>\n

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people age 10 to 14, and the third leading cause of death for 14- to 25-year-olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn today\u2019s political climate, LGBTQ+ students face significant levels of bullying, harassment, and discrimination \u2014 negatively impacting their mental health and academic success,\u201d according to Assemblymember Mark Gonz\u00e1lez, author of the bill.\u00a0 \u201cAB 727\u00a0<\/a>will provide critical resources to support LGBTQ+ youth in crisis and those who have experienced harassment.\u201d<\/p>\n

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