New CA laws bring changes to schools: College admissions, food, literacy & more
Several new California laws are bringing changes to public schools.
The new education laws, which go into effect in 2026, streamline college admissions, improve school nutrition, help students become better readers and more.
Here’s what California students and their families should know:
New law means more support for LGBTQ+ students
A new law going into effect July 1 ensures that students have access to the leading crisis and student prevention hotline for LGBTQ+ youth.
Thanks to Assembly Bill 727, student identification cards distributed by California middle schools, high schools and colleges to include the phone number for the Trevor Project, a 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ+ youth.
State law previously required middle and high schools to print the number for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on ID cards, while university ID cards had to include the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Now, schools must include the telephone number and text line for the Trevor Project as well.
AB 727 builds on earlier legislation by “adding a targeted, affirming resource for LGBTQ students — many of whom face elevated risk for mental health challenges due to verbal, physical, and online harassment,” the California Office of the Governor said in an October news release.
It comes as the Trump administration removes LGBTQ suicide prevention programs and funding.
According to the latest data from the Trevor Project, 35% of LGBTQ+ youth in California “seriously considered suicide” in 2024 — and half of those who wanted mental health care did not receive it.
Which foods are banned in California schools?
A “first-in-the-nation law” bans the “most concerning ultra-processed foods” from being served in California public schools, according to a Dec. 31 news release about new education laws.
It’s aimed at “giving students healthier, real-food meals to improve nutrition and overall health,” the release said.
Assembly Bill 1264 requires schools to phase out “restricted school foods” and “ultraprocessed foods of concern” in lunches and breakfasts served to students by July 1, 2029.
The new law also requires vendors to report information about food products sold to schools, and prohibits them from offering restricted and ultraprocessed foods to schools.
“The law is based on a simple, common-sense idea: schools should not serve students products that can harm their health or interfere with their ability to learn,” the state said in an October news release.
New law helps students become better readers
Assembly Bill 1454 updates standards for teaching literacy in schools.
The bill “provides educators and school leaders greater access to the tools, training, and resources needed to help students become better readers,” according to the Dec. 31 news release.
AB 1454 requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to ensure reading and literacy specialists meet specific criteria by 2028.
Specifically, the commission must make sure program standards “include preparation on how to deliver instruction and support teachers to deliver instruction through effective means for teaching literacy,” according to the official legislative text.
The California State Board of Education also needs to adopt instructional materials for students in kindergarten through eighth grade in English language arts and English language development by the beginning of 2027.
Streamlined college admissions for California high schoolers
Senate Bill 640 streamlines college admissions by granting select high school students automatic admission to participating California State University campuses, according to state officials.
The bill, which went into effect Jan. 1, expands CSU’s direct admission program statewide and extends the Transfer Success Pathway program that helps California community college students transfer to four-year universities.
Schools can use data on the CaliforniaColleges.edu website to determine eligibility, allowing the California Guidance Initiative to send letters of admission directly to students informing them where they’ve been accepted, KXTV previously reported.
This ensures that “more students — especially those who might not have otherwise applied — see a clear and supported path to earning a CSU degree,” the CSU system said in a statement.
This story was originally published January 26, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "New CA laws bring changes to schools: College admissions, food, literacy & more."
