Governor Gavin Newsom is set to make critical decisions this month, with several education bills on his desk poised to reshape California's schools. These include SB 1182, which focuses on decarbonizing school campuses, AB 2229, which seeks to enhance sexual health education and AB 3216, aimed at limiting smartphone use in classrooms. Together, these bills reflect growing concerns about climate change, student well-being, and the impact of technology on learning.
SB 1182: A master plan for climate-resiliency in schools
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Senate Bill 1182 would create a master facility plan to decarbonize schools, or reduce carbon emissions, addressing the urgent climate issues facing California’s students.
This push for climate action comes at a time when young voters across party lines are prioritizing environmental issues. A 2023 NPR and PBS poll found that 60% of young voters rank climate change as a top concern, further underscoring the bill's significance.
Napa High School senior Liliana Karesh, an advocate for the bill, knows firsthand how environmental factors like wildfire smoke and heat waves can disrupt education.
"We have a lot of issues with windows not sealing properly, so wildfire smoke comes into the classrooms," she said, adding that outdated air conditioning systems during heat waves make matters worse.
The bill, if signed, would require schools to report energy usage, ground surface materials, and water expenditure, with a commission tasked to present a comprehensive plan by March 2026. The goal: to make California’s school facilities more environmentally-friendly and outfitted for the changes in climate.
West Campus High School senior Kasch Marquardt, also a youth climate advocate, believes the time for action is now. He was exposed to the dangers posed by smoke-filled campuses during fire season.
"You couldn't see 20 feet in front of you," shared Marquardt, explaining how asthma made it impossible for him to attend school during such conditions. “And that was the day before my mom decided to keep me home for the rest of the week. And those are unexcused absences, too.”
Both Marquardt and Karesh said their education suffered due to poor campus conditions during extreme weather. The issue was especially pronounced during their high school years when missing even a single day of school could set them back in their advanced classes.
Karesh hopes schools act as “safe havens” for the community as heat waves increase in frequency.
“It will be incredibly amazing because these natural disasters will continue to destroy students' homes and endanger lives of many,” she said.
However, Governor Newsom vetoed similar legislation last year, leaving youth advocates like Marquardt hoping this time will be different.
“The climate is going to continue to keep worsening over the years and we're at a time right now where we cannot wait for it to get any worse before we're faced with even more costs depending on school infrastructure,” said Marquardt, recalling the 2018 Camp Fire and the recent flooding in Sacramento. “I think just retrofitting them right now to prevent further damage later is 100% worth the cost.”
AB 2229: Adding menstrual education to sexual health curriculum
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In addition to climate resilience, Governor Newsom is also reviewing a bill that would expand California’s sexual health curriculum to include menstrual education. If signed, it would be the first of its kind in the state to ensure students receive comprehensive menstrual health education.
The proposed legislation, born out of a personal experience, was spearheaded by Solano-based high school student Sriya Srinivasan.
Like many students in California, she grew up without formal education about menstruation, which, compounded by her South Asian upbringing, contributed to her limited understanding of her own body.
And when she stopped having her period for three years during middle school, she concealed her health issues from those around her.
“I didn’t tell anybody because I was petrified,” said Srinivasan. “I stayed silent.”
Eventually, a running injury led her to the hospital, where she learned that her menstrual cycle had been disrupted due to undiagnosed anorexia nervosa.
As she shared her experience with friends, she realized her situation wasn’t unique.
“We were starting to notice that all of us had issues with our menstrual cycles, even though they were different,” said Srinivasan. “We just didn’t know what was going on.”
This gap in knowledge prompted Srinivasan to take action. She proposed the idea that menstrual education be included in California’s sexual health curriculum, focusing on topics such as premenstrual syndrome, menstrual hygiene management, and menstrual disorders. With the help of Assembly Member Lori Wilson, the bill gained momentum.
“It's a movement bringing people together showing that menstruation matters, showing that period poverty exists,” advocated Srinivasan, “It’s a movement that shows that it's okay to talk about these conversations.
Srinivasan’s efforts have spotlighted the importance of having open conversations about menstruation, and the impact that proper education can have on the lives of young people.
AB 3216: Limiting cell phone use in classrooms
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Another initiative pending the governor's decision involves a topic he has already addressed: smartphone use in classrooms.
In August, Newsom sent a letter urging schools to limit smartphone usage, a move that mirrors efforts already underway in some districts.
Roseville City School District had already implemented a mobile-device ban across all schools. District spokesperson Jessica Hull said it took a year of research to come to the decision.
"[Students] have anxiety due to the phone and we're seeing mental health challenges and bullying happening through mobile devices," explained Hull, adding that the ban came after consultations with other schools, including Folsom-Cordova Unified school district.
And though middle schools in Folsom-Cordova Unified have a ‘cell phone in a locked bag policy, high schools in the district did not. Cordova High School implemented its first-ever cell phone limit policy this year.
Teachers like Cordova High's Chaitra Bangalore are already noticing the positive effects of reduced distractions in the classroom.
“I wasn't expecting it to be so stark right away, but there's no phones coming out, and all it took was all the teachers enforcing a school-wide policy,” she said. “I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, because now the engagement problems that I would have are really just based on content.”
Other education bills under review
Other notable education bills that are waiting on Newsom’s signature include a measure to protect students from cyberbullying, legislation to integrate artificial intelligence literacy into school curricula, and a proposal allowing high school students to serve as on-campus voting outreach coordinators.
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed several laws that will impact California school campuses starting next year focused on student safety, career opportunities, and health education:
- AB 2690 mandates that schools must inform parents if their child is found in possession of synthetic drugs, such as synthetic cannabinoids or fentanyl analogs. This law aims to increase parental awareness of drug-related risks.
- AB 2179 requires schools to annually notify parents and students about local apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, helping to connect youth with alternative career paths and hands-on training opportunities.
- AB 2429 establishes that high school students must complete a course on fentanyl education as a graduation requirement, underscoring the growing concern over fentanyl-related overdoses and empowering students with life-saving knowledge.
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