Legislature Aimed at Making Changes

California’s education system is at a pivotal moment, facing a myriad of challenges ranging from teacher shortages to the need for more inclusive environments. The Legislature has responded with a flurry of bills aimed at addressing these issues head-on. These bills reflect the state’s multi-faceted approach to reforming education, focusing on staffing, inclusivity, funding, and student well-being. However, amidst these well-intentioned reforms, some bills could potentially limit parental notification and involvement, raising questions about the balance between student autonomy and parental rights.

Why are So Many Bills Aimed at Education?

The sheer number of education-related bills underscores the urgency and complexity of the challenges facing California’s education system. With issues like teacher and nurse shortages, the need for more inclusive environments for English learners and LGBTQ+ students, and gaps in school funding, the state is taking a comprehensive approach to creating a more equitable and effective educational landscape.

Why Limit Parental Notification?

While most of the bills aim to improve various aspects of education, some could limit parental notification, particularly in the areas of mental health and narcotic abuse treatment for minors. The rationale behind these bills is likely rooted in the idea of empowering young people to seek necessary medical treatment without fear of stigma or family repercussions. However, this approach raises ethical questions about the extent to which parents should be involved in their children’s medical decisions, striking a delicate balance between student autonomy and parental rights.

Bills Addressing Language and Immigration

• Assembly Bill 370: This bill expands how students can earn the state seal of biliteracy, making it easier for non-English speaking students to catch up and demonstrate proficiency in English.
• Assembly Bill 714: Requires the state to report the number of newcomer students, who are often non-English speakers, and consider including resources specifically for teaching them.
• Assembly Bill 393: Requires child care centers to ask families about the languages they speak at home, aiming to incorporate more of children’s home languages in the program.
• Assembly Bill 1127: Re-establishes the Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Program to prepare more teachers to work with English language learners, helping non-English speaking students catch up.

Detailed Look at Key Bills

• Senate Bill 765: Increases post-retirement earnings for retired teachers to 70% of the median final compensation, up from 50%, to encourage them to return and fill teaching positions.
• Assembly Bill 934: Allocates up to $900,000 for a PR campaign to recruit teachers, addressing the teacher shortage in subjects like math, science, and bilingual education.
• Senate Bill 1722: Allows licensed vocational nurses to serve as school nurses when credentialed nurses are unavailable, addressing the long-standing shortage of credentialed school nurses.
• Assembly Bill 247 and Senate Bill 28: These bond measures aim to place a large school facilities bond issue before state voters in 2024. While not explicitly stated, bond measures often result in increased property taxes to pay back the bonds.
• Assembly Bill 665: Allows children 12 years and older to consent to mental health treatment without parental involvement, potentially limiting a parent’s right to know.
• Senate Bill 760: Requires all public K–12 schools to provide gender-neutral restrooms by 2026, aiming to create a more inclusive environment for non-binary and transgender students.

Additional information:
Safe and supportive schools: Assembly Bill 5, authored by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, D-Hollywood, would require public school teachers and credentialed staff to take online training in LGBTQ+ cultural competency starting with the 2025-26 school year. Previously, the state “encouraged” schools to provide training on these topics every two years.

Dream resource centers: Assembly Bill 278 would establish a grant program to help more high schools set up Dream Resource Centers. Dream Resource Centers provide counseling on financial aid, immigration law, and other resources to help immigrant students and children of immigrants.

However, there is no funding in the budget for this grant, and the bill would not go into effect until the Legislature funds it.

In-state tuition for Mexico residents: Students who live in Mexico within 45 miles of the border would be eligible for in-state tuition at community colleges under Assembly Bill 91.

The bill would apply to community colleges near the border — Cuyamaca College, Grossmont College, Imperial Valley College, MiraCosta College, Palomar College, San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College, and Southwestern College. Each college could enroll the equivalent of up to 150 full-time students.

In order for the bill to go into effect, however, the governing board of the California Community Colleges would have to enter into a similar agreement with a university in the state of Baja California to allow California residents to attend there with in-state tuition as well.

California is taking a multi-faceted approach to address various challenges in education. The state is focusing on alleviating staff shortages, promoting inclusivity and diversity, enhancing school funding and infrastructure, and addressing student well-being. However, some bills could potentially limit parents’ rights to know about their children’s health treatments, and bond measures could have implications for property taxes. As these bills move forward, they will shape the future of education in California, for better or worse, affecting students, parents, and taxpayers alike.