2026 Legislative Agenda

At CFJ, our core truth has never changed: youth are the experts on education justice, and true education justice means a relationship-centered, racially just education system. This year, our priorities address both emerging and longstanding barriers impacting Black and Brown students across California, including community schools funding, threats of ICE presence in schools, and equitable resource allocation for students of color.

From now through the end of the legislative session in September, CFJ will work alongside our young people to advance our collective work toward reimagining schools as liberating spaces of joy, healing, opportunity, learning, celebration, and belonging.

This year, CFJ youth and staff are fighting for the following legislative priorities at the Capitol:

HIGH ENGAGEMENT BILLS

These are our top priorities for 2025. These bills address urgent and impactful issues that align with our core values. We strongly support these bills and will advocate for their passage, including at our annual Youth Power Capitol Day.

ACA 7: Repealing Prop 209 for K-12 (Jackson) - SUPPORT

ACA 7 repeals Prop 209, which banned affirmative action, in public education. This bill focuses on offering opportunities for equitable education access in K-12 schools, particularly for historically marginalized communities.

Why is this important for building Black and Brown youth power in California? Repealing Prop 209 will help eliminate barriers that limit opportunities for Black and Brown students, including via lack of funding for students of color specifically. It will ensure that students from underrepresented communities have equal access to the education opportunities they need.

AB 1627: MELT ICE Act (Avila Farias) - SUPPORT

AB 1627 prohibits a person from being employed as a law enforcement officer or as a teacher, principal, superintendent, chancellor, or other administrator by any school district or county office of education if they were employed by ICE between September 1, 2025, and January 20, 2029.

Why is this important for building Black and Brown youth power in California? For immigrant families, fear of deportation and family separation has a significant negative impact on students' ability to focus in schools, instills a fear of attending school, and creates a dangerous, distrustful environment on campus - a blatant contradiction to the relationship-centered schools CFJ strives for. This bill protects students’ rights to be educated in a safe environment and reaffirms schools as places of safety and belonging.

Investing in Community School Success - SUPPORT

Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed $1 billion per year in ongoing funding to expand and sustain the community schools approach across the state. The community schools approach currently helps nearly 2,500 of California’s highest-need school communities to partner with youth, families, educators, and community partners to advance high-quality, joyful, and just learning in culturally affirming schools.

Why is this important for building Black and Brown youth power in California? Research has shown significant benefits for students in community schools, especially in closing equity gaps for those who have been historically underserved by our public education system, including Black, English learner, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and rural students. Additionally, community schools provide the safety, connectedness, and support that students and families seek in their schools, especially during these challenging times. Without an ongoing investment, California risks undermining the significant progress made through this key strategy.

MEDIUM ENGAGEMENT BILLS

These bills represent issues crucial to CFJ. We are actively monitoring and providing support for these initiatives.

AB 1851: Instruction on SEL, Mental Health, Restorative Justice (Gipson) - SUPPORT

AB 1851 requires the California Department of Education to establish instruction for Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), behavioral health, and restorative justice education for K-12 students.

Why is this important for building Black and Brown youth power in California? Black and Brown youth face disproportionate mental health challenges due to systemic inequalities and the stigma around mental health in communities of color. By providing intentional instruction in SEL and mental health education, this bill empowers students to recognize mental health concerns, deconstruct stigma, and seek supports that they may not have known were available.

AB 2555: English Learner Classifications (Patel) - SUPPORT

AB 2555 reclassifies English Learner (EL) students more efficiently so they are not required to remain in EL programs after reaching proficiency. Currently, students are being pulled from core or enrichment classes to continue attending EL classes despite being proficient.

Why is this important for building Black and Brown youth power in California? Many multilingual students, who are overwhelmingly Black and Brown, are kept in EL classes despite being proficient, limiting their access to electives and creative curriculum. This bill removes those barriers, allowing students to fully participate in school and access the same opportunities as their peers.

AB 1537: Law Enforcement ≠ ICE (Bryan) - SUPPORT

AB 1537 prohibits law enforcement officers from being employed by, contracted with, or volunteering for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or any other entity that assists or engages in immigration enforcement.

Why is this important for building Black and Brown youth power in California? As law enforcement officers are also present on school sites as school resource officers, this bill helps ensure schools reduce risks for immigrant students and families by reducing immigration enforcement presence on campus. CFJ fights for schools to be places of safety & belonging for all youth, and when students feel safe and protected, they are more likely to attend school

SB 915: Mental Health Education (Menjivar) - MONITOR

SB 915 is expected to address mental health education, though details are still forthcoming.

Why is this important for building Black and Brown youth power in California? Mental health education is critical for supporting students navigating systemic inequities and trauma. If developed equitably, this bill could help destigmatize conversations about mental health and equip students with tools to care for themselves and their communities.

Note: SB 915 is currently a spot bill and still being developed. CFJ is in communication with the author’s office and monitoring updates.

LOW ENGAGEMENT BILLS

These bills are important to CFJ and we continue to monitor these initiatives as they develop.

AB 1540: 988 Crisis Lifeline: LGBTQ+ Youth (González) - SUPPORT

AB 1540 restores the “Press 3” option on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, ensuring LGBTQ+ youth are routed to specialized, affirming support.

Why is this important for building Black and Brown youth power in California? Black and Brown LGBTQ+ youth face compounded marginalization and higher mental health risks. This bill ensures access to culturally competent crisis support, helping youth stay safe and supported.

SB 998: Office of Civil Rights Coordinators (Lena Gonzalez) - MONITOR

SB 998 will clarify the roles of coordinators within the California Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, building on prior legislation to expand representation across identities.

Why is this important for building Black and Brown youth power in California? The Office of Civil Rights ensures that schools are held accountable when students experience discrimination, bias, or inequitable treatment. For Black and Brown youth, who are disproportionately impacted by disparities in discipline, access to resources, and educational outcomes, this kind of oversight is increasingly integral. By defining coordinator roles and ensuring representation for Black & Brown youth, this bill helps guarantee that the specific experiences of Black and Brown students are uplifted.

Note: SB 998 is currently a spot bill and still being developed. CFJ is in communication with the author’s office and monitoring updates.

AB 1871: Dual Enrollment Access (Fong) - SUPPORT

AB 1871 expands access to dual enrollment by removing barriers such as principal recommendations and course limits, allowing students to take more college classes while in high school.

Why is this important for building Black and Brown youth power in California? Dual enrollment can open pathways to college and careers but access has been historically inequitable. By removing barriers, this bill helps more Black and Brown youth earn college credit and access opportunities that support long-term academic and career success.

California Billionaire Tax Act - SUPPORT

This ballot initiative proposes a one-time 5% tax on California billionaires, with 10% of the revenue directed to K–14 education funding.

Why is this important for building Black and Brown youth power in California? Like with ACA 7, equitable funding is foundational to youth power. By generating new revenue for public education, this measure could help address long-standing resource gaps in schools serving Black and Brown students by supporting programs, staffing, and opportunities that support youth development.

UPDATES

Key Ed Justice Issues to Watch This Fall

September 19, 2024

As we head deeper into the new school year it’s important to stay on top of the many issues impacting our public school students and families. To help you better navigate the shifting education justice landscape we’ve put together a roundup of some key issues to watch this fall. 1. Updates on State Policies Impacting…

$4 Billion+ for CA Community Schools

June 26, 2024

We’ve made it through another budget cycle – whew! Despite this tough budget year, we are energized by the collective advocacy of education justice partners fighting to protect programs that support Black and brown youth and their communities across the state. One of Californians for Justice’s big budget priorities was making sure community schools funding…

Legislative Agenda

2024
2025

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