The old expression “as California goes, so goes the nation” originally served as a compliment to the economic, governmental, and cultural sense of adventure and optimistic progress the state once embodied. However, should the expression prove true in education, it would be concerning indeed.

In 2023, California state legislators introduced a multitude of bills focused on schools and the gender identity of minors, the majority of which were signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in September. Some of these laws went into effect immediately, others on New Year’s Day.

Assembly Bill 5 (A.B. 5) requires the California Department of Education to develop and deliver mandatory “training annually to all certificated staff, beginning with the 2025-26 school year through the 2029-30 school year, on cultural competency in supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) students.” The training seems to focus on equipping teachers to identify students who may be considering LGBTQ+ lifestyles, particularly those who may not receive endorsement or support at home or school. Opponents warned that the bill would serve to drive a wedge between children and their parents, but it was passed overwhelmingly and signed into law by Gov. Newsom on September 23rd, 2023.

A related bill, A.B. 1314, attempted to slow the bypassing of parental notification and involvement. Proposed by Republican Assemblyman Bill Essayli, the bill would require schools to notify parents if their child indicated that they wanted to pursue a different gender identity. The bill was never given a hearing and died in committee. In response, Essayli warned, “They believe the government owns our children and that parents do not have a right to know what is happening with their own children at school.”

A.B. 1078 essentially bans book bans. While this would be an encouraging development, when it results in the preservation of classic texts, this California bill focuses on LGBTQ+ literature. The bill’s rationale is direct and specific: “Restricting access to classroom and library materials because they feature LGBTQ people or were written by LGBTQ authors discriminates against LGBTQ people and constitutes censorship in violation of California law and policy.” A.B. 1078 requires all state schools and districts to follow specific steps and obtain approval before being allowed to remove materials, under penalty of state fines. Gov. Newsom signed the bill on September 25th, 2023.