Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and final pass a bill that prohibits school districts from attempting to ban books.

Highlights:

• Requires previously enacted civil policy to include a statement that the policy applies to all acts of the governing board or body of the local educational agency, in enacting policies and procedures that govern the local educational agency (Sec. 1). 

• Authorizes a complaint that more than one pupil does not have sufficient textbooks or instructional materials, as a result of an act or omission by the governing board of a school district, to be filed directly with the Superintendent (Sec. 5). 

• Require a county superintendent of schools to take a range of actions if the county superintendent determines that there are insufficient textbooks (Sec. 5) 

• Reduces a school district’s local control funding formula allocation by a specified amount if the Superintendent determines the school district has not provided sufficient textbooks or instructional materials pursuant to these provisions (Sec. 6). 

• Reduces a school district’s local control funding formula allocation by a specified amount if the Superintendent determines the school district has not provided sufficient textbooks or instructional materials pursuant to these provisions (Sec. 6). 

• Amends the list of the above-described groups to instead require instruction in social sciences to include a study of the role and contributions of, among others, people of all genders, Latino Americans, LGBTQ+ Americans, and members of other ethnic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic status groups (Sec. 6).

• Requires governing boards of school districts, when adapting instructional materials for use in the schools, to include materials that accurately portray the cultural and racial diversity of our society (Sec. 7). 

• ProhibitS the governing board of a school district, a county board of education, or the governing body of a charter school from refusing to approve or prohibiting the use of any textbook, instructional material, or other curriculum or any book or other resource in a school library on the basis that it includes a study of the role and contributions of any individual or group consistent with the above-described requirements (Sec. 8). 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that prohibits school districts from attempting to ban books.

Highlights:

• Requires previously enacted civil policy to include a statement that the policy applies to all acts of the governing board or body of the local educational agency, in enacting policies and procedures that govern the local educational agency (Sec. 1). 

• Authorizes a complaint that more than one pupil does not have sufficient textbooks or instructional materials, as a result of an act or omission by the governing board of a school district, to be filed directly with the Superintendent (Sec. 5). 

• Require a county superintendent of schools to take a range of actions if the county superintendent determines that there are insufficient textbooks (Sec. 5) 

• Reduces a school district’s local control funding formula allocation by a specified amount if the Superintendent determines the school district has not provided sufficient textbooks or instructional materials pursuant to these provisions (Sec. 6). 

• Reduces a school district’s local control funding formula allocation by a specified amount if the Superintendent determines the school district has not provided sufficient textbooks or instructional materials pursuant to these provisions (Sec. 6). 

• Amends the list of the above-described groups to instead require instruction in social sciences to include a study of the role and contributions of, among others, people of all genders, Latino Americans, LGBTQ+ Americans, and members of other ethnic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic status groups (Sec. 6).

• Requires governing boards of school districts, when adapting instructional materials for use in the schools, to include materials that accurately portray the cultural and racial diversity of our society (Sec. 7). 

• ProhibitS the governing board of a school district, a county board of education, or the governing body of a charter school from refusing to approve or prohibiting the use of any textbook, instructional material, or other curriculum or any book or other resource in a school library on the basis that it includes a study of the role and contributions of any individual or group consistent with the above-described requirements (Sec. 8). 

Full Bill Text