What’s going on with K12 and higher education in California in 2026?
If 2025 was any indicator, the Trump administration’s priorities will continue to dominate California’s education landscape. With the U.S. Department of Education largely dismantled and the Trump administration targeting LGBTQ and racial equity issues, immigration and special education, K-12 districts will need to cut long-standing programs or figure out new ways of serving Black, Latino and LGBTQ students and those with disabilities. Legal battles in 2025 over higher education funding will continue throughout the year, including decisions about whether the Trump administration can cut research funding from UC campuses. In midterm elections voters will select a new state superintendent and governor and decide on school bonds and board members.
CalMatters education team:
- Editor: Denise Zapata, [email protected]
- K12 education reporter: Carolyn Jones, [email protected]
- Higher Education: Mikhail Zinshteyn, [email protected]
- Community College Reporter: Adam Echelman, [email protected]
- College Journalism Network Editor: Jennifer Burger, [email protected]
Quick Facts
- Enrollment: There are nearly 6 million students in California’s 10,000 K-12 public schools.
- Demographic: Nearly 20% of K-12 students are English learners; more than 60% are from low-income families.
- Community College: More than 2.2 million students attend the largest system of higher education in the U.S.
- Financial aid: California plans to commit roughly $3 billion in financial aid to undergraduates in 2025, nearly a billion more than it spent in 2017.
K12 and Higher Education Bills
In Focus
Here are all of the bills considered in the current session involving K12 and higher education. Highlighted bills are identified by CalMatters as among the most significant this year.
SB 98 Passed
This bill would require schools and colleges to notify students, parents, and staff if immigration enforcement comes to campus.
AB 1121 Failed
This bill would require K-12 schools to use a phonics-based approach to literacy.
AB 90 In Progress
This bill would allow homeless college students to park overnight in campus lots. It’s the third time since 2019 that this issue has come before the Legislature.
AB 335 Failed
This bill would create a million competitive grant program for Cal State and community college campuses to provide academic support to underserved Black students. The money would also go to other underserved students.
AB 1943
Pupil safety: notifications: firearms.
In Progress Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Pupil safety: notifications: firearms.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Education
AB 1534
Student financial aid: federal Workforce Pell Grant program.
In Progress Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education
Student financial aid: federal Workforce Pell Grant program.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education
AB 1861
Special education: complaint database.
In Progress Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Special education: complaint database.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Education
AB 1581
Pupils: data reporting: American Indian and Alaska Native pupils.
In Progress Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Pupils: data reporting: American Indian and Alaska Native pupils.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Education
AB 1721
Pupil safety: comprehensive school safety plans.
In Progress Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Pupil safety: comprehensive school safety plans.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Education
AB 1631
Elementary education: kindergarten.
In Progress Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Elementary education: kindergarten.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Key Players
Legislative Leaders
These are the leaders in the Legislature for education issues as identified by CalMatters.
Mike Fong
District 49, Alhambra
Sasha Renée Pérez
District 25, Pasadena
Jesse Gabriel
District 46, Encino
Al Muratsuchi
District 66, Torrance
Blanca Rubio
District 48, West Covina
John Laird
District 17, Santa Cruz
David Alvarez
District 80, Chula Vista
Non-Legislator leaders
Other than legislators, these are the people or organizations that have been most active on education issues as determined by the number of times they have testified in related hearings or taken positions on bills.
