As California enters 2026, new education laws are taking effect that directly shape students’ daily experiences at school, from safety and mental health supports to student rights, inclusion and access to resources. Together, these measures reinforce schools as safe, welcoming environments where every student can learn, belong and thrive.

Below is an overview of some of the most impactful 2026 laws focused on student safety, wellbeing and rights and what they mean for school communities.

Expanding Student Safety and Mental Health Supports

Several new laws strengthen how schools prevent harm, respond to crises and support student mental health.

• AB 1034 (Ávila Farías), Teacher Credentialing: Youth Mental Health

Teacher preparation programs must now include basic instruction on youth mental health. This ensures future educators are better equipped to recognize early warning signs, reduce stigma and connect students with appropriate supports. Over time, this law strengthens school-based prevention and early intervention systems, benefiting students and families alike.

• AB 727 (González, Mark), Pupil and Student Safety: Identification Cards

Middle schools, high schools and public institutions of higher education must include the phone number and text line of a designated LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline on student identification cards. This powerful change expands access to life-saving support, particularly for students who may be reluctant to seek help openly.

• SB 848 (Pérez), Pupil Safety: School Employee Misconduct: Child Abuse Prevention

New statewide requirements clarify professional boundaries, expand mandated reporter responsibilities, enhance abuse-prevention training and establish a system for tracking investigations of employee misconduct. For students and families, this improves transparency and safety. For educators and administrators, it creates clearer expectations and consistent safeguards across schools.

Promoting Fair and Supportive Discipline Practices

California continues its shift toward more equitable, student-centered discipline.

• AB 1230 (Bonta), Pupil Discipline: Expulsions

Schools must now develop individualized rehabilitation plans for expelled students, regularly review progress and remove barriers related to cost or transportation. These changes emphasize accountability while ensuring students are supported in returning to school successfully, reducing long-term harm and improving educational outcomes.

Protecting Student Rights, Privacy and Belonging

Several 2026 laws reaffirm that schools are places of safety, inclusion and respect.

• AB 49 (Muratsuchi), School Sites: Immigration Enforcement

Schools including preschools, Head Start programs and early learning centers are further protected as safe spaces. Immigration enforcement officers may not enter nonpublic areas of school sites without a valid judicial warrant and limits are placed on the sharing of student and family information. These protections help reduce fear, support attendance and reinforce trust between schools and families.

• SB 98 (Pérez), Education: Immigration Enforcement Notification

School safety plans must now include procedures for notifying students, families and staff when immigration enforcement officers are present on school campuses. Transparent communication helps minimize disruption and anxiety while ensuring schools respond consistently and lawfully.

• AB 1369 (Ramos), Pupil Rights: Graduation Adornments

Students’ rights to wear traditional tribal, cultural or religious adornments at graduation-related events are clarified and expanded. Families determine what is culturally or religiously significant, reinforcing respect for student identity while preserving schools’ authority to prevent substantial disruptions.

Supporting Student Voice and Participation

• AB 320 (Bennett), Public Social Services: Eligibility: Income Exclusions

Compensation or course credit received by pupil board members will no longer count as income for purposes of determining eligibility for public benefits or public college scholarships. This ensures students from low-income families can participate in governance and civic leadership without unintended financial consequences.

As these laws take effect in 2026, schools will need to update policies, training and communication practices to ensure compliance and maximize their impact. For administrators and educators, the changes call for proactive planning, staff awareness and clear coordination with families. For students, they reinforce expectations of safety, fairness and respect across school campuses.

Together, these laws reflect a broader effort to align school practices with student needs while strengthening trust within school communities.