AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 13, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 2, 2026

AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 14, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

96

Introduced by Senator Stern

February 17, 2026

An act to add Section 60077 to the Education Code, relating to pupils.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district, when adopting instructional materials for use in school, to include relevant technology-based materials, defined for these purposes to mean basic or supplemental instructional materials that are designed for use by pupils and teachers as learning resources and that require the availability of electronic equipment in order to be used as a learning resource, and including the electronic equipment required to make use of those materials used by pupils and teachers as a learning resource, including, but not limited to, laptop computers and devices that provide internet access. Existing law prohibits a school official from requiring a pupil to purchase any instructional materials for the pupil’s use in the school, except as provided.

Commencing with the 2027–28 school year, this bill would prohibit, unless necessary under a specified circumstance, a school district, county office of education, or charter school from requiring a pupil in kindergarten, including a pupil in transitional kindergarten, to take home a school-issued electronic device, as defined, except that a local educational agency may authorize those pupils to take home a school-issued electronic device. The bill would encourage local educational agencies to regularly review and update their policies related to pupils’ screen time and, in conducting that review, to solicit input from, among others, currently employed teachers and school administrators.

This bill would require the State Department of Education, on or before July 1, 2027, to (1) develop and post curate and maintain on its internet website model policies resources for the age-appropriate use of school-issued screen time and electronic devices in school and to device use in schools and guidance on how to transition take-home school-issued electronic devices into dedicated classroom-based electronic devices and how to participate in e-waste recycling or buy-back programs, and (2) take into consideration when developing those policies, curating the resources and guidance, among other things, developmentally appropriate screen exposure time at each grade level and (2) provide guidance and resources to 5 or more local educational agencies that elect to participate in a pilot to remove take-home school-issued electronic devices from pupils, as specified. level.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 60077 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 60076, to read:

60077.

(a) Commencing with the 2027–28 school year, a local educational agency shall not require, but may authorize, a pupil in kindergarten to take home a school-issued electronic device unless the device is necessary under one of the following circumstances:

(1) Pursuant to a pupil’s individualized education program, as defined in Section 56032.

(2) In the case of a local or state emergency that interferes with the ability of a pupil to attend class in person, as determined by the local educational agency.

(3) Pursuant to an independent study program established pursuant to Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 51745) of Chapter 5 of Part 28.

(b) Local educational agencies are encouraged to regularly review and update their policies related to pupils’ screen time, including time spent on electronic devices in the classroom and completing homework, and providing pupils with school-issued devices for these purposes. In conducting a review, local educational agencies are encouraged to solicit input from currently employed teachers and school administrators, parents and guardians of enrolled pupils, enrolled pupils, and any other stakeholder groups deemed relevant, and are encouraged to consider all of the following in the review:

(1) Appropriate policies for each grade level.

(2) One-time and ongoing financial costs of providing pupils with take-home school-issued electronic devices.

(3) The ability of the local educational agency to provide ongoing technological support of school-issued electronic devices.

(4) The ability of the local educational agency to monitor and control pupil activity on school-issued electronic devices when they are used at home.

(5) The educational benefits and risks of pupils completing homework on electronic devices rather than through other methods.

(6) The equity implications of providing or not providing all pupils with take-home school-issued electronic devices.

(7) The safety risks to pupils when completing homework on school-issued electronic devices, or other electronic devices, including data privacy concerns, exposure to harmful content, and developmental impacts.

(c) On or before July 1, 2027, the department shall do both curate and maintain on its internet website resources for age-appropriate screen time and electronic device use in schools and guidance on how to transition take-home school-issued electronic devices into dedicated classroom-based electronic devices and how to participate in e-waste recycling or buy-back programs. In curating the resources and guidance, the department shall take into consideration all of the following:

(1) Developmentally appropriate screen exposure time at each grade level.

(2) Balancing pupils’ use of school-issued electronic devices with direct teacher interaction.

(3) The impact of school-issued electronic devices and screen time on early literacy, arithmetic, and fine motor skill development.

(d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Electronic device” means a desktop or laptop computer, handheld device, tablet, smartphone, or other electronic product or device that has a platform on which to download, install, or run any software program, code, script, or other content.

(2) “Kindergarten” includes transitional kindergarten, as defined in Section 48000.

(3) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.