A set of education laws Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September reaches from kindergarten classrooms to community colleges, including West Valley College in Saratoga.
Two companion bills, SB 960 and AB 2694, create a five-tier system that limits how many bachelor's degree programs a California community college may offer, up to 12 per college, with the tier set by each college's graduation and transfer rates. EdSource reported the system takes effect in January 2028.
In public schools, Senate Bill 1067 requires math screening for every student in kindergarten through second grade, with districts starting the screenings in fall 2028 once the state picks approved tools.
Assembly Bill 2555, an urgency law that took effect when it was signed Sept. 27, reclassifies English learners who reach the state board's score on the state English proficiency test in 2025-26 or 2026-27, and requires students who met that score last year to be moved by Jan. 31, 2027.
Other new laws let districts use Proposition 28 arts money for curriculum, materials and staff training, open a faster route to an emergency substitute permit for college graduates, and give parents the right to hold teacher conferences by phone or a school-approved video platform.
Assembly Bill 1709 bars covered social media platforms from offering "addictive" features to users under 16, with enforcement left to the attorney general and local prosecutors.
A fuller rundown of each bill appears in our [Pleasanton edition](https://pleasantonca.city/article/new-state-laws-add-math-screening-and-speed-up-english-learner-reclassification-in-california-schools).
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New state laws add math screening and speed up English learner reclassification in California schools (pleasantonca.city)