AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 21, 2026
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 23, 2026
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
97
Introduced by Assembly Members Ramos and Patel
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Bonta)
January 13, 2026
An act to add Section 60900.4 33318.7 to the Education Code, relating to pupils.
Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal committee: yes Local program: no
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
Existing law creates, in the State Department of Education, the American Indian Education Unit to provide technical support to, and proper administrative oversight of, American Indian education programs established by the state in order to ensure that American Indian pupils attending California public schools are able to meet specified challenging academic standards.
Existing law establishes the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS), which is maintained by the State Department of Education and consists of pupil data from elementary and secondary schools, as specified, relating to demographic, program participation, enrollment, and statewide assessments, among other things. Existing law requires the system to be used to accomplish specified goals, including to provide school districts and the department access to data, including demographic data, necessary to comply with federal reporting requirements.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
This bill would require the department to, on or before July 1, 2028, and each July 1 thereafter, post, on the department’s internet website, statewide aggregate educational outcome data for the prior school year for pupils who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, as specified.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The accurate identification of American Indian and Alaska Native pupils in California is a critical issue that significantly affects the allocation of educational resources and the development of culturally responsive programs.
(b) In 1997, the Office of Management and Budget revised its Statistical Policy Directive 15 to require two separate race and ethnicity questions, with the ethnicity question, “Are you Hispanic or Latino?”, collected first before a more specific race question.
(c) The aforementioned questions have inadvertently led to many American Indian and Alaska Native pupils being misclassified or overlooked, particularly when they select Hispanic or Latino in the first question, as responses are often not disaggregated.
Section 60900.4 is added to the Education Code, to read:
60900.4.
(a) Beginning with the 2027–28 school year, the department shall define and collect, as part of the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System, a record of the tribal affiliation of each pupil who identifies as American Indian or Alaska Native, including a pupil who identifies as American Indian or Alaska Native in addition to another race or ethnicity.
(b) Beginning with the 2027–28 school year, any time a school district, county office of education, or charter school collects race or ethnicity information for the purposes of California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System reporting, the school district, county office of education, or charter school shall also collect and report in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System the tribal affiliation of each pupil enrolled who identifies as American Indian or Alaska Native, including a pupil who identifies as American Indian or Alaska Native in addition to another race or ethnicity.
(c) The department shall provide technical assistance to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools in implementing this section.
SEC. 3.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
SEC. 2.
Section 33318.7 is added to the Education Code, to read:
33318.7.
(a) For purposes of this section, “pupils” means pupils who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native only, and pupils who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native in addition to another race or ethnicity.
(b) (1) On or before July 1, 2028, and each July 1 thereafter, the department shall post, on the department’s internet website, statewide aggregate educational outcome data for the prior school year for pupils, with information on each of the following indicators:
(A) The number of pupils.
(B) The academic achievement of pupils, as determined by quantitative data currently collected.
(C) The rate of suspension and expulsion of pupils.
(D) The rate of chronic absenteeism of pupils.
(E) The four- and five-year cohort graduation rates of pupils.
(2) In meeting the requirement of paragraph (1), the department shall use data, where appropriate, reported pursuant to existing law.